Survey for AG Brewers: Fly or Batch Sparge?

[Revvy]

I think this thread shoulda had a poll to it. Of course now it would be doubtful if folks would go back and add their votes to a poll, but it would be nice. Especially a public poll with who does which on it....

 

[1stTimer]

Batch

 

[BrewerinBR]

Batch

 

[Sarge]

Batch

 

[Nohup]

Fly. Use a 10 gallon cooler to hold my sparge water, and just let it drain slowly.

 

[Tyru007]

Single Batch Sparge

 

[Bsquared]

Most the time fly, some times batch.

 

[BetterSense]

I use BIAB. I put my grain bag in one of those metal steaming baskets inside my kettle. To sparge what I do is lift the basket out of the kettle and set it on top the kettle with a metal grate. I let it drain and then I squish as much out of it as I can with my hands using rubber gloves. Then I pour a couple quarts of sparge water back into it and repeat until I have enough water for the boil. I call it 'squish-sparging'.

 

[JuanMoore]

What is your efficiency? I get over 80 with a single sparge. I am sure 85% is possible but I don't want astringency. I have heard there is even less risk with no sparge. If I can get 75 that way and have a tastier wort, save time, it seems like a big win.

Astringency is more about mash PH than anything else, but I do feel the wort is higher quality and better tasting when produced at lower efficiencies. I've gotten as high as 89% using a double batch sparge, but now aim for 80% (I dialed back the crush a little). I typically use a single batch sparge for smaller beers, and a double batch sparge for larger beers.

 

[jlpred55]

Batch and I also only mash for 30 minutes- 40 minutes at most for regular beers. Any others I need super fermentable or some other weird variable I will do longer, up to 8 hrs sometimes

 

[Steelers77]

I use a hybrid method:
I drain my mash tun an put first runnings on the stove to heat and set profile. Then fill tun with enought water to get my grainbed to mashout temp, recirc, then start running that off. While I'm draining I top off mash tun with remaining sparge water as needed until desired volum is reached. I've got up 89% eff with this method without a hint of astringency (I do acidify my spare water).

 

[jamboparty]

Single Batch here.

 

[longke]

Fly. Batch if I lose track of time.

 

[Monstar]

I use a hybrid method:
I drain my mash tun an put first runnings on the stove to heat and set profile. Then fill tun with enought water to get my grainbed to mashout temp, recirc, then start running that off. While I'm draining I top off mash tun with remaining sparge water as needed until desired volum is reached. I've got up 89% eff with this method without a hint of astringency (I do acidify my spare water).

I like this a lot

 

[JeffS]

I batch sparge. My efficiency sucks (like 65%) but I think it has to do with the crush of the grain since it dropped when I moved and started going to a new LHBS.

 

[Beezy]

I batch sparge. My efficiency sucks (like 65%) but I think it has to do with the crush of the grain since it dropped when I moved and started going to a new LHBS.

That's not that bad you just have to figure for it. Pretty typically for LHBS crush it seems.

 

[soup67]

Double batch cause it works for me.

 

[944play]

Single batch. Sometimes no sparge.

 

[heckels]

Fly sparge in the garage. Batch in the kitchen.

 

[samc]

Batch first, now have moved on to BIAB, although not convinced that I won't go back to batch.

Fly ? I don't think it's good to have flies in beer.

 

[betarhoalphadelta]

Fly, from day 1. I find monitoring flow rates easier than measuring out batches trying to hit proper volume...

 

[trent]

Fly since day 1, so easy.

 

[annasdadhockey]

I used to batch sparge, but I fly sparge now. For some reason I like how long it takes, and I like getting the perfect flow from HLT to MT to BK.

Then again I have a lot of free time.

Fly sparge. I just set my flow rate and check it every 10 minutes or so. I don't see myself ever switching.

Yes

 

[bullinachinashop]

Mostly fly, although I'll do almost anything!

 

[pickles]

Fly sparge here, the pumps do all the work. Although I originally did it with gravity and enjoyed that too.

 

[richkev]

Fly. Because it is what I learned to do first. But, I am going to start batch sparging: 1. I am moving up to 10 gallon batches and 2. I need to try and maximize my time. I sure love my kids, but it is really hard to find time to brew!!! Priorities, priorities...

 

[captainoverspray]

Fly here, I have only done three AG brews so far.

 

[TravisT]

double batch sparge. Seemed like the easiest way for my setup and just haven't changed. I've got so much equipment laying around my house I think a fly sparge arm would just be another thing to worry about.

 

[trent]

double batch sparge. Seemed like the easiest way for my setup and just haven't changed. I've got so much equipment laying around my house I think a fly sparge arm would just be another thing to worry about.

sparge arm is not needed. Just setup a tube in the mash tun.

a lot of us do this....

 

[Starderup]

Batch in my 36 quart mashtun. Our group equipment is setup for fly sparging, and one other bigger system could do fly, but we usually just batch it. In my experience, fly takes more effort and oversight.