Using more batch sparge water

[Bokdem]

I'm using brew software which calculates the amount of water needed for my 5kg grainbill to reach the OG of 1060. I need 20L mash water, then rinse out the last sugars with 9L batch sparge water to reach the 1060.

Quick question: Let's say I will use 15L of mash water instead of the 20L, then add the 5L I lowered it with to the 9L batch sparge water. (makes it 14L batch sparge) Will I end up with close to the same 1060 OG when using more water to batch sparge with?


I know there is a ratio of 1.5 qt/lb to get nice results, so this example would fit in this ratio.

(not sure if mash water/batch sparge water are the correct terms being used for the first 60minute rest, please correct me)

 

[Yooper]

I'm using brew software which calculates the amount of water needed for my 5kg grainbill to reach the OG of 1060. I need 20L mash water, then rinse out the last sugars with 9L batch sparge water to reach the 1060.

Quick question: Let's say I will use 15L of mash water instead of the 20L, then add the 5L I lowered it with to the 9L batch sparge water. (makes it 14L batch sparge) Will I end up with close to the same 1060 OG when using more water to batch sparge with?


I know there is a ratio of 1.5 qt/lb to get nice results, so this example would fit in this ratio.

(not sure if mash water/batch sparge water are the correct terms being used for the first 60minute rest, please correct me)

Yes, if you sparge up to your boil volume the OG will be the same. It's the same volume, if I'm understanding what you're saying.

 

[owmatooth]

What if that 5L was added after the boil to help with the cooling process and to accomodate a 7.5gal electric boil kettle. would the gravity still end up back at 1.060?

 

[owmatooth]

well, i guess that doesn't account for the expected boil off the 5L, so say 4.5L added during cooling to end up with the same amount of wort ready to pitch.

 

[Bokdem]

Yes, if you sparge up to your boil volume the OG will be the same. It's the same volume, if I'm understanding what you're saying.

mash water 20L - sparge water 9L
20L - 9L
19L - 10L
18L - 11L
17L - 12L
16L - 13L
15L - 14L

These combinations of volumes will all result close to 1060 OG to start boiling with? I hope you understand what I mean, been searching a while to find a answer to this question..

 

[Bokdem]

What if that 5L was added after the boil to help with the cooling process and to accomodate a 7.5gal electric boil kettle. would the gravity still end up back at 1.060?

I think that's a nice way to bring up the volume in the fermentation vessel when the boiling kettle isn't big enough. Not sure but this is somehow what high gravity brewing is?

I think when you add the 5L add after boiling, you will lose some extraction of sugers from the grain since you don't sparge them?

 

[Yooper]

What if that 5L was added after the boil to help with the cooling process and to accomodate a 7.5gal electric boil kettle. would the gravity still end up back at 1.060?

No. Adding plain water will dilute the batch. Sparging is rinsing the grain, getting some of the sugars into the liquid. It's not pure water, it's wort.

 

[owmatooth]

I'm on a biab system with the williams mash and boil electric kettle. there's no sparging for me, just squeezing.

 

[doug293cz]

The sparge runnings volume / first runnings volume ratio does have an effect on lauter efficiency, and thus pre-boil SG (and OG for constant boil-off.) Here's a nice chart that @pricelessbrewing put together using a lauter simulation spreadsheet I created. All points on the chart are for the same pre-boil (total runnings) volume. The maximum efficiency, and thus highest SG, is obtained when the initial runnings volume and sparge runnings volume are equal (50:50 [sparge:initial] or 1 on the chart.) However, there is very little change in efficiency over a range of 40:60 [sparge:initial] (0.67 on the chart) to 40:60 (off the chart to the right.) Once you get to 33:67 [sparge:initial] (0.5 on the chart) the drop in efficiency starts to become significant. The easiest thing to do is use 60% of your total water for mashing, and the remaining 40% for sparging. When you factor in grain absorption, you will be pretty close to 50:50, and well within the range where the exact ratio is insignificant.



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[Bokdem]

The sparge runnings volume / first runnings volume ratio does have an effect on lauter efficiency, and thus pre-boil SG (and OG for constant boil-off.) Here's a nice chart that @pricelessbrewing put together using a lauter simulation spreadsheet I created. All points on the chart are for the same pre-boil (total runnings) volume. The maximum efficiency, and thus highest SG, is obtained when the initial runnings volume and sparge runnings volume are equal (50:50 [sparge:initial] or 1 on the chart.) However, there is very little change in efficiency over a range of 40:60 [sparge:initial] (0.67 on the chart) to 40:60 (off the chart to the right.) Once you get to 33:67 [sparge:initial] (0.5 on the chart) the drop in efficiency starts to become significant. The easiest thing to do is use 60% of your total water for mashing, and the remaining 40% for sparging. When you factor in grain absorption, you will be pretty close to 50:50, and well within the range where the exact ratio is insignificant.

View attachment 396105

Brew on

This was exactly what I was looking for. Great results in an easy to read graph.

 

[doug293cz]

This was exactly what I was looking for. Great results in an easy to read graph.

Should give credit to Kai Troester (Braukaiser) as well. He did the original batch sparge analysis, which was the inspiration for my spreadsheet. I used @pricelessbrewing 's chart, as I think his presentation is a little easier to understand than Kai's similar charts.

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