Yet another fly sparge question..

[Fin-lander]

I've finally decided to join this site ... I've lurked here for awhile & learned a lot. On to my question: I'm currently about to switch to fly sparging; before you ask, yes I have the setup and I don't need any batch sparging advice. I've seen other brewers fly sparge, and generally heat up an overabundance of sparge water, sparge to pre-boil level, or ~ 1.010, etc, and boil. It just seems like a waste to leave your mash tun & HLT to some degree full of water - water that you have to heat.

I guess my question is, for you fly spargers, do you calculate a more specific amount of sparge water, and "run out" of sparge water near the end, thus running your MT to almost empty while completing your sparge? Is this recommended? Or is it better to keep that 1-2" above the grain bed for the whole sparge & then just discard the excess. Like I said, this is the way I've seen it done, but it just seems like a bit of a waste.

Thanks in advance - great site!

 

[The Pol]

I run my HLT dry, and my MLT dry... this leaves only my pre- boil volume in my kettle.

I have seen no issues with this. I use every drop of water.

 

[annasdadhockey]

I run my HLT dry, and my MLT dry... this leaves only my pre- boil volume in my kettle.

I have seen no issues with this. I use every drop of water.

I try to do the same, but sometimes end up with maybe 2 or 3 quarts extra.
Last brew day I was spot on, though.

 

[The Pol]

Takes some tweaking, but it is nice. I can walk away from the sparge since I dont have to monitor the kettle volume.

 

[Fin-lander]

Thanks for the quick answers guys - this was the route I was going to take, but just wanted to make sure.

 

[Bsquared]

I usually calculate about how much sparge water I will need and add a little more. When I start to get near my target volume (ie my post boil volume) I start to measure my gravity with a refractometer. If you don't have a refractometer, it is a really continent tool for fly sparging, and I'd recommend getting one. If I am higher than or at my target post boil gravity when I reach my post boil volume(i.e.6 gallons), I will stop sparging and fill the kettle to my preboil volume (i.e.7.5 gallons) with water.

If its lower, I keep sparging till and keep measuring till I hit my preboil volume, or i hit my preboil gravity. If it hit the pre boil gravity before my preboil volume I add water to bring up the volume to my pre boil volume. If its lower you can add DME to hit your target numbers, Or like I do, brew a weaker beer and adjust the recipe for the next time you brew that beer.

For the most part I calculate that I will get 70-75% eff with my recipes, where my system is capable of hitting +80%. So I will hit my target gravity preboil gravity early I go a little over and then fill the kettle with water, to hit my target preboil volume and gravity. It leaves a bit of wort behind, but I can drain that off and boil it separately to use for starters later.

But thats just how I do it. I'm sure there are a million ways it can be done.

 

[JVD_X]

I only take up to my target volume, assuming I am on the money for gravity. If there is enough left over I parti-gyle into small 1 gallon jugs and experiment with various spices.

Some folks boil the rest of the runoff and turn it into starter wort.

 

[Fin-lander]

I usually calculate about how much sparge water I will need and add a little more. When I start to get near my target volume (ie my post boil volume) I start to measure my gravity with a refractometer. If you don't have a refractometer, it is a really continent tool for fly sparging, and I'd recommend getting one. If I am higher than or at my target post boil gravity when I reach my post boil volume(i.e.6 gallons), I will stop sparging and fill the kettle to my preboil volume (i.e.7.5 gallons) with water.

If its lower, I keep sparging till and keep measuring till I hit my preboil volume, or i hit my preboil gravity. If it hit the pre boil gravity before my preboil volume I add water to bring up the volume to my pre boil volume. If its lower you can add DME to hit your target numbers, Or like I do, brew a weaker beer and adjust the recipe for the next time you brew that beer.

For the most part I calculate that I will get 70-75% eff with my recipes, where my system is capable of hitting +80%. So I will hit my target gravity preboil gravity early I go a little over and then fill the kettle with water, to hit my target preboil volume and gravity. It leaves a bit of wort behind, but I can drain that off and boil it separately to use for starters later.

But thats just how I do it. I'm sure there are a million ways it can be done.

Wow, answered some additional questions I had about the refractometer. Many thanks! :rockin:

 

[Fin-lander]

"It leaves a bit of wort behind, but I can drain that off and boil it separately to use for starters later."


Would you recommend freezing this leftover for starters in the future? I had envisioned tossing it into a couple of sanitized mason jars and into the freezer. I would reboil before adding yeast for a starter anyway.

 

[Bsquared]

Would you recommend freezing this leftover for starters in the future? I had envisioned tossing it into a couple of sanitized mason jars and into the freezer. I would reboil before adding yeast for a starter anyway.

Mason jars will crack if you freeze them with liquid in them. I put it in sanitized mason jars, and then seal them like I am canning. and put it in the fridge. I usually only do this if I plan on brewing and using it with in a week. If not I just discard it.

 

[Fin-lander]

good point on them cracking. If I do keep it longer term, I'll avoid glass.

FL

 

[The Pol]

I dunno about you, but my final runnings are like 1.010, which is really weak for a starter.

 

[SpanishCastleAle]

I dunno about you, but my final runnings are like 1.010, which is really weak for a starter.

But by the time you boil it down it's not too far off. I also save the last ~1/2 gal from the bottom of the kettle which is usually too strong for a starter so when you combine it's close.

I would always freeze it unless I was gonna use it very soon. I just use the empty 1 gal water jugs from the Distilled water I buy (for Starsan solution or diluting brewing water).