Survey for AG Brewers: Fly or Batch Sparge?

[SwampassJ]

Double batch sparger here.

 

[osagedr]

I do batch with my current setup, but if/when I get around to building a 10g brew system I will probably move to fly. For now, my mash tun sets up on a table in my garage. The kettle is on the floor. To do fly means getting a vessel elevated over my mash tun or pumping liquid. I know I am losing some efficiency with the way I am sparging, but that doesn't really trouble me. What does trouble me is the idea that I might somehow be not getting the clearest wort possible into my kettle, even though I vorlauf.

 

[browncoat]

Fly sparge. I get the sparge water up to temp while I am vorlauffing sp? When it runs clear I siphon he water from the hlt through a siphon hose resting on top of the grain and open the outflow valve. One thing I learned is you need a stainless racking cane and a really cheap plastic clamp.

 

[corkybstewart]

I do both, sometimes I'll even do a combo-1 batch then fly sparge to finish. I've never noticed any difference at all in the quality of the beer, but then it's always really tough to say one beer tasted better than another because{name your reason}. It's like drinking half a batch of RIS young and aging the other half. By the time it's aged can you really honestly compare it to the fresh batch?
When I brew with massive grain bills I'll batch sparge so that the grain bed doesn't get too compacted and seal off. Moderate-small grain bills usually get fly sparged so I can leave it alone and do things like eat lunch.

 

[jkarp]

No sparge for me.

 

[wheels4]

Im a Fly guy.

 

[SamuraiSquirrel]

Single batch gets me 78% double gets me 80-82%. I have done single batch for the past year or two

 

[sudsmcgee]

Single or double batch sparge depending upon whether all of my sparge water fits in my HLT.

 

[socalboomer]

Gravity Fly for me.

I find it easy and almost brainless to fly. I have my rig set up with a really simple sparge arm (just dribbles water at the top of the mash) and it's cake to set that flow rate the same as the drain to the boil keggle. Set, forget, check every 15 minutes or so. . .

It's also what I was taught, although that was the pitcher/drain method. . . this is sooo much easier.