Question about double batch sparge

[user 141939]

I am entering the recipe for reaper's mild into beer smith. I am supposed to do a mash out with 1 gallon, and then a double batch sparge.

Beersmith says to do double batch sparge 1.44 Gal, 3.86 Gal.

Why does it give different volumes for the batch sparges, why not just use equal volumes for both?

 

[Dolomieu]

I believe there is a check box under the mash profile that will let you set it to equal runnings.

 

[Warthaug]

Beersmith gives you equal volumes of runnings, not additions. So your first addition is smaller as your first runnings will be the liquid part of your mash + the first sparge addition. You're second addition is larger as you have drained the mash, so it is effectively "dry".

Bryan

 

[Dolomieu]

Under your recipe, if you go down to "mash" above carbonation. I hit command & right click, it brings up your mash profile info. Under batch sparge options check the box for "use equal batch sizes"

 

[Denny]

I am entering the recipe for reaper's mild into beer smith. I am supposed to do a mash out with 1 gallon, and then a double batch sparge.

Beersmith says to do double batch sparge 1.44 Gal, 3.86 Gal.

Why does it give different volumes for the batch sparges, why not just use equal volumes for both?

Keep in mind that Beersmith is a great tool to help you brew the way you want to brew. But it is NOT instructions about how to brew. You get to decide that for yourself. In batch sparging there is almost never a need for a mashout or a double sparge. Make it easy on yourself.

 

[chickypad]

If batch sparging you also want to check the "drain tun before sparging" on the mash profile page. If you do that and your tun is big enough it will give you the sparge in a single step.

 

[RM-MN]

Since you are planning to batch sparge, you can skip the mash out step. Note how much wort you get when you drain the tun. Plan your batch sparge(s) to add just enough water to get to your planned preboil. You can do one or 2 batch sparges and can mix up or match the volumes if you do 2.

 

[user 141939]

So the recipe says

mashout with 1 gallon of boiling water and Vorlauf till first runnings are clear. Double batch sparge with 170 degree water to get to pre-boil volume.

I take this to mean to add the one gallon for the mash out, drain, add water and drain (first batch sparge), add water and drain (second batch sparge). This does seem like overkill for a recipe with an OG of 1.036. But I am still quite new so was planning on just following the recipe. Actually though I think I will just do one batch sparge.

I just hadn't really considered mash out and draining the first runnings to be a sparge, but this is what beersmith is doing. So now I get why the numbers are different.

My main reason for asking was because I know I have read some stuff about your sparge volumes should be proportional to your mash volumes or something but I can't remember the details or know if it is that important or not anyways. I though maybe beersmith was taking that into account somehow.

 

[user 141939]

If batch sparging you also want to check the "drain tun before sparging" on the mash profile page. If you do that and your tun is big enough it will give you the sparge in a single step.

Done. Thank you.

 

[user 141939]

All excellent advice. Thanks everyone.