I need to go cheap on my mash tun

[kev211]

Kev. It's where the pipe comes through the grommet. I'll I don't think I lose more than a pint over an hour.

Wilser. I tried another hour with a heavy blanket over the lid and lost nothing .

Now...any tips on batch sparing with this? 1 or 2 steps? Etc

Ohhhh. Never mind then. Ya, I'd try silicone. In the mean time... Duct tap

I usually batch sparge in 2 steps. I know it varies from person to person, but I find my efficiency increases when I double batch sparge

 

[SteelManCM]

Manifold looks good. Myself, I fly sparge so I built another assembly like the manifold to which I connect my pump. You could easily forgo the Quick Disconnect and simply use a funnel and ladle for sparging.

http://imperialhops.blogspot.com/2015/03/we-have-decided-on-sparge-method.html

 

[WaltG]

well 1st try with this new setup. Even after stirring 3x during the mash I only lost about 2 degrees and my efficiency was 75.53%.

So all in all I'm happy with it.

Also it drained like a dream.

 

[WaltG]

Well mash efficiency showed 75. Brewhouse was more like 65. Any idea why? Only variance was I lost a bit more to trub that I thought I would.

 

[kev211]

Did you hit your temps right? What did you do for your sparge?

 

[WaltG]

Here is the recipe

All Grain Version*

Beer Style: Blonde Ale

Batch Size: 5.5 gallons

Original Gravity: 1.040

Final Gravity: 1.008

Bitterness: 21.5 IBU

Boiling Time: 60 Minutes

Color: 3.9 SRM

Alcohol: 4.2% ABV

*

Ingredients

7.00 lbs. Pale Malt (2 Row) US

0.75 lb. Cara-Pils/Dextrine

0.50 lb. Caramel/Crystal Malt - 10L

0.50 lb. Vienna Malt

0.25 oz. Centennial (9.50%) boil for 55 min

0.25 oz. Centennial (9.50%) boil for 35 min

0.25 oz. Cascade (7.80%) boil for 20 min

0.25 oz. Cascade (7.80%) boil for 5 min

Danstar Nottingham Ale Yeast

*

Directions

Mash at 150 degrees for 60 minutes. Sparge with 175F water to create enough wort to reach 5.5 gallons after the boil. Boil and add hops according to the schedule above. Chill to 68 degrees and pitch the yeast.*

Mashed with about 3 gallons at about 151. Only lost 1 degree on mash. Sparged with 2 3 gallon batch sparge which have me just under 7 gallons with a gravity of 1.035. After boil I ended with a little over 5 gal at 1.041.