Batch Sparging

[ni9e]

I'm going to try batch sparging for tomorrows brew but would like some clarification on a couple of points using the batch sparge calculator I get....

These figures are a guestimate at the moment as I'm waiting till the kids are in bed before measuring my mashtun etc

Total volume of water: 35.15 L Total quantity of water required (useful to know when calculating salts for treatment)
Calculated wort volume: 25.6 L Calculated wort volume required for the boil
Batch Volume: 12.8 L Collect two equal quantities of wort from the mash.
Water required for batch #1 22.3 L Total quantity of water required for batch #1.
Mash Volume: 11.25 L
Top up Volume: 11.1 L
Water required for batch #2: 12.8 L

Thing i'm not sure on is the mash volume and top up volume do I add 11.25L to grist in the tun and mix as usual and leave for 90 mins to mash and then top up with the extra 11.1L or do I add it after i've mixed in the grist?

And am I right in thinking the water for batch 2 will be 75-80c give it a good stir and leave it for a while?
If so what is the best time to let it settle for?

Thanks

 

[Vossy1]

Thing i'm not sure on is the mash volume and top up volume do I add 11.25L to grist in the tun and mix as usual and leave for 90 mins to mash and then top up with the extra 11.1L

That's the one :thumb:

And am I right in thinking the water for batch 2 will be 75-80c give it a good stir and leave it for a while?
If so what is the best time to let it settle for?

I actually heat the top up for batch one to 78 deg as well. I'd leave it to stand for 5 mins to settle then start to recirc until clear.

 

[ni9e]

Thing i'm not sure on is the mash volume and top up volume do I add 11.25L to grist in the tun and mix as usual and leave for 90 mins to mash and then top up with the extra 11.1L

That's the one :thumb:

Thanks Vossy do I drain the tun first than add or add then drain?

 

[Vossy1]

FWIW I've tried a few combos when batch sparging. My favorite one is to drain the mash first, and then add batch 1 top up and batch 2 at the same time as it saves waiting for the mash to clear twice.
Have a play around in time, and see what suits you :thumb:

 

[ni9e]

Will do i'll have a play and see what happens is there much difference batch or fly sparging

 

[Vossy1]

Efficiency wise I get 74% when batch and 80% when I used to fly. Personally, I changed to batch thinking it would be faster, saving me some time, but that hasn't proven to be the case. I fly sparge at 2lt/min so it takes me about 38 mins to get 78ltr for pre boil. When batch sparging I found I have to recirc for 10 minutes on each water addition for batch 1 top up, and batch 2, so that's 20 mins. I could do less time but I like a clear run off.
In addition to the 20 mins I then have to pump from the tun to the copper, again at 2ltr/min, so you can see staright away that fly sparging will save me 20 mins.

There's something really evil about messing up a beautifully balanced mash at either liquor addition :lol: :twisted:

 

[ni9e]

I'm having a go at batch sparging as I fly sparge with a watering can and with my back being bad I am limited on what I can do so fingers crossed I'll get it right :pray:

 

[Frisp]

Last time I did a fly sparge I made the mistake of having my HLT and my MT on teh same table and it was a 60L brew so gravity was no good, I used a plactic bucket lid drilled a shedload of 1.5mm holes in it and and placed it on top of teh grain bed then using a 2 L jug I just dumped the liquor on top of the drilled lid. this dissipated the liqour trough all of the mash so no channeling and allowed the speed of my sparge to be controlled purely by the tap on teh MT. I got 80% efficiency and a really nice wort out of it. and I didnt have to stand there for half an hour watering the grain.. Might be the way round your bad back issue.

 

[llannige]

Good method there F. :thumb:

I do something very similar.I cut up an old fermenting bucket to about 50mm high,drills holes,and it sits tidy on my mash tun.The 50mm sides prevent any spillage and a slow run makes sure I have no stuck sparges.

I too get 80% efficiency with this method