GF sparger or standard boiler?

[Bashley]

Hi guys

Very, very soon I'll be purchasing the Grainfather. Rather than invest the 80 odd quid for the GF sparger I thought it might be more prudent to invest the same in something that could be multi purpose. If I bought a standard 20L gas boiler with tap and thermometer would it do the same job? I ask because then if I ever have a problem with my GF at least I could do a few BIAB brew using the boiler. As for heating it up I guess either I could use the grainfather to boil the water first. But maybe during the brewing process it would cool down too much? I could always boil small amounts of water while the grainfather is mashing.
Anyway, any advice would be welcome!

 

[aamcle]

I'm happy getting 75%+ mash efficiency with a cold water sparge, if that's enough for you then you don't need a heater.

If you want to keep preheated water warm just store it in an insulated cool box.


aamcle

 

[Bashley]

I'm happy getting 75%+ mash efficiency with a cold water sparge, if that's enough for you then you don't need a heater.

If you want to keep preheated water warm just store it in an insulated cool box.


aamcle

Thanks aamcle, then at least I can use the cooler for other things. Are all insulated coolers able to take boiling water?

 

[Fil]

Yes, but boiling water might remain too warm for the sparge if you bear in mind that over a 90 minute mash most budget cold boxes will maintain a mash temp within 5c without any extra insulation upgradeing. so a little testing in advance may be wise

tho fwiw my old budget cold box tun was preheated with a couple of off the boil kitchen kettle fulls of off the boil water..

for the g/f sparge heater option you could even retire a suitable (PP) fermentor and add a budget kettle element.

While many report good results (BHE) with a cold water sparge hot water straight from the hot water tap could be used too..

Perhaps consider how your going to deliver the sparge volume to the top of the g/f 'tower', a lil brown solar pump or silimar (heat and food safe) may be more useful than a heater so you can avoid manhandling a large volume of scolding temp water to the height needed to sparge the g/f system.

 

[Bashley]

Yes, but boiling water might remain too warm for the sparge if you bear in mind that over a 90 minute mash most budget cold boxes will maintain a mash temp within 5c without any extra insulation upgradeing. so a little testing in advance may be wise

tho fwiw my old budget cold box tun was preheated with a couple of off the boil kitchen kettle fulls of off the boil water..

for the g/f sparge heater option you could even retire a suitable (PP) fermentor and add a budget kettle element.

While many report good results (BHE) with a cold water sparge hot water straight from the hot water tap could be used too..

Perhaps consider how your going to deliver the sparge volume to the top of the g/f 'tower', a lil brown solar pump or silimar (heat and food safe) may be more useful than a heater so you can avoid manhandling a large volume of scolding temp water to the height needed to sparge the g/f system.

I guess I was just thinking I'd fill up a glass jug several times.

 

[-Bezza-]

If you want to keep preheated water warm just store it in an insulated cool box.

Interesting idea - but how do you heat 15l of sparge water? Do you just boil the kettle 5 times and top up with cold?

 

[Bashley]

Interesting idea - but how do you heat 15l of sparge water? Do you just boil the kettle 5 times and top up with cold?

Surely it would work with just a a couple of kettle boils and a couple of big pans on the stove. Would be half the price of the GF sparger and you can use it for family trips in the summer.

 

[-Bezza-]

Surely it would work with just a a couple of kettle boils and a couple of big pans on the stove. Would be half the price of the GF sparger and you can use it for family trips in the summer.

Definitely a benefit in the cool box having other uses but might be a bit of a faff to have a couple of pans going, rather than just having a single water heater. Dunno, just thinking out loud really.

 

[Bashley]

Yeah, I know what you mean. I've also heard that a fish tank pump can be used to pump from wherever to the grainfather. No idea which one would be suitable though.

 

[MmmBeer]

Interesting idea - but how do you heat 15l of sparge water? Do you just boil the kettle 5 times and top up with cold?

Only done 2 brews with my Grainfather so far, but this is what I have done. Put a big pot of water on the hob, corrected temperature using kettle or cold water, then sparge with a jug.

I have been looking out for a second hand tea urn, to reduce the faff.

Looking forward to getting another brew done, once my Brewtility room is fitted out.

 

[Oneflewover]

Only done 2 brews with my Grainfather so far, but this is what I have done. Put a big pot of water on the hob, corrected temperature using kettle or cold water, then sparge with a jug./ QUOTE]

This is exactly what I did for my first dozen brews, works fine. Recently bought a sparger I can pump the water from, mostly so that I can take the brewery out of the kitchen and into the garage to satisfy SWMBO!