Batch sparge volume

cwrw · May 2, 2010

Hi,
With Batch sparging is the mash volume and the top-up volume (in the calculator) added at the same time or do you have to drain the mash before the top-up?.....I'm still in the observer stage at the moment :roll:

Also, Ive just bought an old 20 litre boiler - how could this be best utilised within a future brewery.
Cwrw :drink:

A T · May 2, 2010

The mash volume is the water that's added to the grains for 60/90 mins and the top up water is used to ..... well top it up at the end of your mash. You then drain to the boiler and add the required water to the mash tun for your second batch

It will make more sense when you do it :lol:
A 20 litre boiler would limit you to small batches but if you got a bigger kettle after, you could use the 20L boiler as a HLT :thumb:

corby_brewer · May 2, 2010

i personly think a 20ltr burco would be a tad on the small side for an HLT. But saying that, what sort of brew length are you looking at? If its 23 - 25ltrs then forget it. i use a 25 ltr HLT and a 30 ltr burco as a boiler and only manage brew lengths of 22 - 23 ltrs.

cwrw · May 2, 2010

Cheers for the info guys - making perfect sense :thumb:
Regarding the 20litre burco I'm sure at the best it will get relegated to the HLT as I would prefer a 10 gallon plastic boiler (price 80-100 pounds from 2 sites) ...does anyone have alternatives to H+g version as they seem to not be in stock :?:

Cheers,
Cwrw

A T · May 3, 2010

Keep an eye on Nordic Optical

It does mean converting it to a boiler yourself though

Cussword · May 3, 2010

corby_brewer said:
i personly think a 20ltr burco would be a tad on the small side for an HLT. But saying that, what sort of brew length are you looking at? If its 23 - 25ltrs then forget it. i use a 25 ltr HLT and a 30 ltr burco as a boiler and only manage brew lengths of 22 - 23 ltrs.

Can you help me out with that as I've not done any AG brewing at all. I was just given a 4 gallon (sorry, old school) Burco boiler that I thought would be OK for an HLT. I thought that if I was doing a 5 gallon length I would not have to use the full four gallons in the mash tun, & when sparging I would have the refilled four gallons plus what was in the mash tun. If I'm wrong about that please tell me now & put me out of my misery