Sparge water heater

[Lee69]

So, looking round the net at the above, there's the usual GF etc 20 litre. For a similar price I can get a 30 litre Cygnet unit, are they pretty much the same?
I'm thinking the larger capacity would be better.
Thoughts?

 

[Hazelwood Brewery]

I love my cygnet but I do use it with an Inkbird to control the temperature. Don’t rely on the thermostat for anything.

…maybe “off”.

 

[marshbrewer]

I also use a cygnet for a HLT / Sparge water heater with an Inkbird. Don't forget you will need to change to tap for a ball valve if you want to control flow as the standard tap is on / off. It isn't that hard to do, just a bit of a faff.

 

[Lee69]

Thanks for the input, didn't think about the tap, good info, cheers.

Also, I'm thinking I could BIAB in the Cygnet, alongside what I do in my brewzilla (same malt bill etc) to do double strength stouts, IPA's. Etc (is that a re-iterated mash?)

This is all new to me, I'm slowly collecting equipment as funds allow, and a bit of knowledge from you guys as I go, cheers

 

[Hazelwood Brewery]

You can BIAB in the Cygnet, yes.

No that’s not a reiterated mash. In a reiterated mash you use the wort from one mash as the mash water for a second mash with more grain.

 

[Rento]

I use a cygnet for sparge water, I can get consistent temp control on mine, setting 4 is bang on 75 degrees! I got it when I stared with BIAB and still use it for small batches rather than the G40. The standard tap works fine for me.

R

 

[Rento]

I also marked up the Inside with a dremmel with markers every 5 and a dot on singles which is really useful.

 

[Lee69]

You can BIAB in the Cygnet, yes.

No that’s not a reiterated mash. In a reiterated mash you use the wort from one mash as the mash water for a second mash with more grain.

So a longer brewday? So to do two identical mashes at the same time to end up in the same boiler is called a what?

 

[Hazelwood Brewery]

So a longer brewday? So to do two identical mashes at the same time to end up in the same boiler is called a what?

A split mash? (I made that up!)

I don’t remember there being a special word for that, you just mash half the batch in each vessel. I do two mashes (not at the same time) when brewing an imperial stout because I actually do brew in my Cygnet and it doesn’t hold enough grain.

 

[Lee69]

We should invent one then

Nice one @Hazelwood Brewery
Cheers for your help

 

[AlDaviz]

Can only say my gf thermostat is pretty accurate when I’ve double checked, I’m only making 25L batches so it’s a good size for sparking etc

 

[Old Fart At Play]

This is all new to me, I'm slowly collecting equipment as funds allow, and a bit of knowledge from you guys as I go, cheers

If funds are tight you could heat sparge water in brewzilla and drain off into plastic bucket or whatever, rather than buy a separate HLT

 

[Lee69]

Yep, true. I do have a 15 litre stainless pot that I could use on the hob. I'm just future proofing for big beers, and 30 litre for the same price as 19/ 20 appeals

If funds are tight you could heat sparge water in brewzilla and drain off into plastic bucket or whatever, rather than buy a separate HLT

 

[Rwilts]

If funds are tight you could heat sparge water in brewzilla and drain off into plastic bucket or whatever, rather than buy a separate HLT

Second vote for this. I heat full capacity in brewzilla and then drain 10 litres (normally) into a large drinks Despenser (which I bought second hand years ago intending to convert into a mash tun) that keeps the temp fine until sparge time. Would love the idea of busying a second vessel for heating sparge water but just not necessary.

 

[Loonytoone]

I use a cygnet for sparge water, I can get consistent temp control on mine, setting 4 is bang on 75 degrees! I got it when I stared with BIAB and still use it for small batches rather than the G40. The standard tap works fine for me.

R

ditto.
well, the first sentence anyway - very repeatable, I do check with a thermometer but its always spot on.

 

[MrJay83]

Second vote for this. I heat full capacity in brewzilla and then drain 10 litres (normally) into a large drinks Despenser (which I bought second hand years ago intending to convert into a mash tun) that keeps the temp fine until sparge time. Would love the idea of busying a second vessel for heating sparge water but just not necessary.

I set the combi-boiler hot water to 65 and fill a couple of pots. No issues so far.

 

[Agentgonzo]

I set the combi-boiler hot water to 65 and fill a couple of pots. No issues so far.

That's quite clever! Sparge water temperature matters far less than the mash (as long as it's not too high).

 

[MrJay83]

That's quite clever! Sparge water temperature matters far less than the mash (as long as it's not too high).

I won't take the credit for it. I read it on another post here. Great bit of advice because I had a pot on each ring previously trying to warm the water up

 

[Agentgonzo]

I won't take the credit for it. I read it on another post here. Great bit of advice because I had a pot on each ring previously trying to warm the water up

And if you have one of those extendable kitchen taps with a diary spray attachment, it's basically a sparge head!

 

[MrJay83]

And if you have one of those extendable kitchen taps with a diary spray attachment, it's basically a sparge head!

Don't think that would work too well. Combies generally need a decent flow to turn the boiler on and then flow for a bit until it starts heating the water.
I was thinking of putting an instant water heater on the cold feed to the shed but it's a bit pricey for the sake of filling a pot 2 or 3 times in the kitchen sink.
Diary spray and electric instant heat would be ideal for a small flow.