I heard from a brewing buddy that there is a sparger that rotates and evenly distributes water on the the grain bed during lautering but every time I look for it, I end up finding ones that spray or just hoses. Anybody know where I can find this rotating sparger?
Where to find special sparger
- Thread starter rdonovan
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Spraying sparge water on your grist is a great way to loose heat from your sparge water. Be sure to overheat your water so that it will still be warm on the mash. The other option is to use a sparge water downlet that discharges the water gently on top of the grist.
wailingguitar
Well-Known Member
Rotating sparge arms are fun to watch, but really aren't necessary. If they were, you would see them on virtually every commercial brewing system, you don't. Less than 30% of the breweries I have worked use them. Most use stationary spray balls.
If you are using traditional sparge methods, the main thing is that there are no major disruptions to the surface of the grain bed so as to prevent channeling. Otherwise, just keep at least an inch of water above the grain and you're ok. More than an inch is fine, especially if you have an insulated mash tun- like a picnic cooler style. I always get my runoff established with an inch or two of water above grain bed, then get the rest of the sparge water in as soon as possible so I don't have to fool with it. No changes in efficiency.
If you are using traditional sparge methods, the main thing is that there are no major disruptions to the surface of the grain bed so as to prevent channeling. Otherwise, just keep at least an inch of water above the grain and you're ok. More than an inch is fine, especially if you have an insulated mash tun- like a picnic cooler style. I always get my runoff established with an inch or two of water above grain bed, then get the rest of the sparge water in as soon as possible so I don't have to fool with it. No changes in efficiency.
HellBentBrewCo
Well-Known Member
I have the rotating sparge arm. My advice is to skip it. At normal sparging speeds it doesn't spin so I would just get something to trickle the water onto the grain bed. Simple and effective.
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