Mashing - Sparging

[Chris The Masher]

Hi,

This is my first post on this site - sorry been viewing only with no input !

Unfortunately, I have yet to have any real success with Full mashes and as a result of that keep reverting back to partials. Anyway, I'm not easily defeated and am detemined to succeed so am shortly getting ready for my next Full Mash. This time I'm going to use an insulated mash tun instead of a heated one that seems pretty much useless at holding at the critical temperature - hopefully this will resolve the main problem ?

Anyway, on to my main question (any advice gladly appreciated). The subject of sparging, 2 questins........

1) I have seen some various videos on you tube about sparging and I always thought this use to be a very fine delicate process, but I have seen people who once the mash tun has been completely drained simply throw a load more water in, give it a good fierce mix and then drain again, I'm sure this is very wrong ? but would like a second opinion please.

2) This is just a clarification question on a lack of understanding of the whole process. Why do we not initially simply fill the mash tun up so we can drain of enough juice so that we do not need to sparge. Surely, leaving the whole quantity of the final water in for the full duration (60 - 90 mins) would have a much better efficiency than simply pooring sparging water through the grains and collecting 2 mins later ?

Now I know every one Sparges including breweries, so obviously there is a good reason for sparging, but it would be nice to understand for my own benefit.

Many thanks for your help.

Chris.

 

[corby_brewer]

1) I have seen some various videos on you tube about sparging and I always thought this use to be a very fine delicate process, but I have seen people who once the mash tun has been completely drained simply throw a load more water in, give it a good fierce mix and then drain again, I'm sure this is very wrong ? but would like a second opinion please.

This method of sparging is called BATCH SPARGE. what you do is refill you tun after you have drained the first batch of wort, refill the MT, give it a good stir, wait about 30 minutes then drain it again. Then repeat the process untill you get you required volume of wort for the boil.

As for you second question, then yes it is possible to do that. its a method that our Australian friends tend to use more than the UK brewers, i used it for my first couple of brews. Its a method caledl BIAB (brew in a bag). where you mash and boil using just one vessel. Ther is a post on here somewhere about it.

 

[snail59]

There (I believe) are 2 ways to sparge 1- fly sparge. This is when you mash then run water through the mash. 2- Batch. I think this is just fill up with all the requierd liquer then collect. Think it all depends on the size of the tun???????. Someone with more knowledge than me will explain in more detail I hope .

 

[snail59]

[quote="Chris The Masher":1wd3upk7]
1) I have seen some various videos on you tube about sparging and I always thought this use to be a very fine delicate process, but I have seen people who once the mash tun has been completely drained simply throw a load more water in, give it a good fierce mix and then drain again, I'm sure this is very wrong ? but would like a second opinion please.

This method of sparging is called BATCH SPARGE. what you do is refill you tun after you have drained the first batch of wort, refill the MT, give it a good stir, wait about 30 minutes then drain it again. Then repeat the process untill you get you required volume of wort for the boil.

As for you second question, the yes it is possible to do that. its a method that our Australian friends tend to use more thatn the UK brewers, i used it for my first couple of brews. Its a method call BIAB (brew in a bag). where you mash and boil using just one vessel.[/quote:1wd3upk7]


You see someone with more knowledge did explain even befor I had a go :rofl:

 

[Dunfie]

Corby explained it well. The only thing I would add is that I don't wait 30 minutes - I normally just give it 5 or 10. It's a very flexible process.

 

[Chris The Masher]

Hi All respondents,

Many thanks for your inputs - looks like there are several ways to do this Spaging business and no individual way seems wrong. I think for my nest mash, I will try the fine spray method as this seems to be the straight forward of the ways.

I am still hoping that my main area for problems in the past was the unreliable temperature control whan I used a thermostat type bucket.

Fingers crossed the insulated mash tun method gives better results.

Thanks,

Chris.

 

[Talon_Ted]

an alternative method of sparging, though admittedly not widely practised, is to place the mash in a domestic washing machine after draining the wort off. you them set the machine to hot rinse and place a bucket under the waste pipe. the trick is not to leave the machine on for too long. i tried it once and the head on the beer was terrific! though the taste was definitely slightly soapy. sadly the verdict from others who tried it was disappointing, i expect it was jealousy, so i haven't tried it again. so another brilliant idea bites the dust.

TT

 

[Tony]

an alternative method of sparging, though admittedly not widely practised, is to place the mash in a domestic washing machine after draining the wort off. you them set the machine to hot rinse and place a bucket under the waste pipe. the trick is not to leave the machine on for too long. i tried it once and the head on the beer was terrific! though the taste was definitely slightly soapy. sadly the verdict from others who tried it was disappointing, i expect it was jealousy, so i haven't tried it again. so another brilliant idea bites the dust.

TT

I can just hear my missus now... I feel my biggest problem wouldn't be soap in my beer but beer smells on all the kids clothing. I don't think I'd ever hear the end of it. Did you really do this, or just dream it?

 

[Aleman]

Actually I've always thought that a twin tub washing machine would make quite a nice self contained brewery . . . . . once some sort of basket was made to retain the grain

 

[Talon_Ted]

tony

you guessed correctly! i didn't actually try it but it thought it could work.

what i did try was to use a tumble drier to dry my first attempt at making malt. the malt wasn't any good but the tumble drier worked brilliantly. not surprisingly despite careful cleaning the clothes had a pleaseant smell of malt for a month or two afterwards. i did receive a number of complaints from my wife at the time, she just couldn't see the huge advancement to home brewing i had made, so she had to go. the tumbling effect had the added benefit of knocking the roots off so it did two jobs at once. i would definitely do it again but would take the precaution of buying an old secondhand machine to be used exclusively for malt. my partner is very tolerant of my various hobbies: brewing, falconry, ferreting etc but i lover her too much to risk pushing the boundaries that far again!

aleman

i think the washing machine system could work but apparently there is a large build up of scum inside most used washing machines. unless you use a brand new one, rather extravagant, or one which you can take apart and clean it would cause contamination problems.

TT