Cold sparge or full volume boil on all in one system

[pottsworth]

Ive done a couple of brews now on my mibrewery (same as ace/klarstein/brew devil etc.), and the one thing that prevents it being a true one-vessel brew day is the need to heat sparge water.

Has anyone tried either full volume mash, or cold water sparging (or any other method) with one of these systems, and was there any noticeable reduction in efficiency/ any other issue?

 

[peebee]

I've been doing it for a while. Initially for "low-alcohol" beers, but more recently (two days ago!) for a more average strength beer. No sparge ("full volume mash"), and no significant reduction in efficiency (I allowed for one, dropping brew house efficiency to 72% from my usual 75% but this only resulted in me creating stronger than planned beer). Other issues: Well one, I was brewing a 1.055 beer which was really pushing the capacity of a Grainfather. Other (predicted) issues was you can't use the GF volume tools (they assume a water to grain ratio of 2.7, and you'll be using much more water) and the mash is too thin to support the top on the grain basket (I secured it with a hose clamp).

I haven't written up an average strength brewing session yet, but the low-alcohol brewing is written up here (using Beersmith for volume calculations, but could be adapted?).
https://drive.google.com/file/d/11engfVsgy6okCgLiuwb8gc2gaMVahiV7/view?usp=sharing
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1ISrSYlK5q5Acf1xHgaZ8mC_0mm2UWuhA/view?usp=sharing

 

[aamcle]

I cold sparge my GF and usually get well over 75% but loose out because of the dead volume at the bottom of the boiler.

Cool works fine and saves using a third vessel, boiler, malt pipe, sparge heater.


Aamcle

 

[The Baron]

I have done it many times in the same system as yours mine being the Ace. The only thing I would say is watch your PH of water as I did have a issue with astringency with full volume but I sorted it by using RO water and later I used 3 or 4 2litre bottles of Aldi water with the rest tap water which sorted it ( that is if it was the PH issue as that is all I could come up with at the time). Apart from that no problems at all efficiency was good too

 

[peebee]

… I haven't written up an average strength brewing session yet, ...

I have now! https://drive.google.com/open?id=1ZLHgwiCYDUnDm9HSdP39nqfKSnFk_Jt8

I'll possibly get around to writing a new thread for it soon.

 

[Drunkula]

Not cold sparged with a robot machine but done it with biab not full volume and was really surprised that it made not a lot of difference. It was an "I can't be arsed, I don't care about efficiency" brew and it came out the same as previous hot sparges.

 

[chrisbjones202]

I've heard lots say cold sparging works but for the sale of a HLT which I already have it would add time to get the wort to boiling point.