AG sparge times

[Clint]

To key in with kelpers boil time post....how long do you take to sparge? This is another avenue I'm exploring regarding increasing efficiency.
Last brew I made it last just over an hour and increased by 8% to 68%...although I did add extra malt,I also gained a few points too.
A bit indecisive as I made two adjustments at once.
I realise different volumes take different times but post anyway.
I'm making 23l batches and my previous times were unknown and all over the place!

 

[Brew_DD2]

I've never really understood people chasing mash efficiency unless you post some truly awful numbers. Surely just buying some extra malt is easier/ less time-consuming than lengthy and elaborate techniques to eek out a few percentage points.

Not specifically aimed at you, I've been guilty of it too. Brew days are long enough imo.

 

[Keats]

I do a 15 minute dunk sparge. Think I must have read something that suggested this when I started doing AG and seems to work ok.

 

[BeerCat]

Fast or slow i get about the same. 60% seems a bit low, what grain to water ratio are you using? For a 28l batch with 5kg of grain i use about 42l, 22l for the mash and 20l sparge. Any left over wort in the kettle is used for starters.

 

[IainM]

15 to 20 minutes, more or less, to get 15L sparge water through. It always varies a bit though. I try to adjust the crush size and oat / rice husk additions to keep it about that ballpark, as I've had issues with too fast sparges and lower efficiency in the past. I'm yet to nail it but I don't have problems with sparge water rushing through or getting stuck so that good enough for me.

 

[Horners]

I tend to take quite a while. I use the Klarstein with the grain basket and once the kettle has a decent amount of wort in it \ nears boiling the basket gets dumped in a spare FV bucket where the sparge continues until all of water used. These later runnings are used to top up boiler and doing it this way helps to avoid boil over as the thing has a violent boil and I never trust it filling too close to the line.

 

[Rodcx500z]

I do 21L brews which works out at about 28 to 30L total water depending on recipe, I put the total amount in the kettle and bring to mash temp, then I put 8 or 10L in a spare fv leaving 20 in the kettle mash and then do a dunk for 15 minutes and a bag squeeze, last 3 brews this has worked out ok about 60-65%, so for me if the end product is good and tasty I am happy, not knocking kits I did one today but ag is way better

 

[Rodcx500z]

Hi Horners trust your kettle, I have never had a boil over

I tend to take quite a while. I use the Klarstein with the grain basket and once the kettle has a decent amount of wort in it \ nears boiling the basket gets dumped in a spare FV bucket where the sparge continues until all of water used. These later runnings are used to top up boiler and doing it this way helps to avoid boil over as the thing has a violent boil and I never trust it filling too close to the line.

 

[Horners]

View attachment 20879 Hi Horners trust your kettle, I have never had a boil over

Plenty of boil overs. Partly down to user error but also the Maischfest has a 3000W element which I suspect is more than your unit.

 

[Mungri]

15 to 20 minutes sparging with 12l in Grainfather. Depends on the grist. If there are rice hulls in there it would be more like the 15 minutes.
I only seem to get around 70% efficiency, I know lots of people get much higher.
20l mash and 12l sparge gives me 23l into the fermenter.

 

[The Baron]

I just do a quick jug sparge by putting on the top mesh in my Ace(to dissipate the water) it usually takes me 10 mins and I very rarely get Eff less than 70% and more like 72- 75% as a average. I too do not worry too much on Eff as if by any chance I am below target it is usually by a couple of points and more like I need to add a little water to bring it down if I get a really good Eff. Ps is everybody quoting brewhouse Efficiency as it does tend to be lower and can confuse the discussion

 

[MmmBeer]

It varies depending on the grain bed, but usually 10 - 15 minutes. I remember reading something regarding the Grainfather that you should aim to maintain approx 10 mm of sparge water above the top plate, I usually try to keep it between the top and bottom of the two handles.

 

[cushyno]

I use a Peco boiler and a CampingGaz 27L coolbox as a mash tun. All my early brews I took great pains to lauter and sparge out of the mash tun. Always mashed for 60 mins. Never had a stuck sparge and took 20-40 minutes to sparge. Always 16L mash and 14L sparge. Couldn't get consistent efficiency, it ranged from 63% to 75% over 12 different brews.

For the last 3 brews I have opted to mash in a mesh bag inside the coolbox. Mash for 45mins, no lauter (lift bag, squeeze, tip first runnings into spare FV), then dunk sparge with remaining 14L for 10 minutes. Pour all runnings into boiler, squeeze bag hard.

For the last 4 brews with the much simplified dunk sparge I consistently managed 68-70%.

That's good enough for me and shortens the brewday by a whole hour.

 

[marshbrewer]

I batch sparge so after taking draining the mash, I then add re required amount of sparge water I need to get the pre boil volume, like a second mash if you like, and leave it to settle for 15 mins, then collect as normal. I *usually* get efficiencies of 70%ish, if I don't its because I've screwed up somewhere.

 

[simon12]

I drain then 2 batch sparges of 10 min each

 

[cushyno]

I drain then 2 batch sparges of 10 min each

Out of interest, what volumes of water do you typically use for mash and two sparge batches?

 

[simon12]

Out of interest, what volumes of water do you typically use for mash and two sparge batches?

I can't check on the computer I have here but off the top of my head I think about 12-14L mash +7-8L each sparge due to my equipment size I add part of the last sparge during the boil as boil off makes the space. I forgot to mention efficiency but due to my scales being not that accurate and volume measurements not much better but using it enough times I think I get high 70's maybe 80 ish.