Splash whilst sparging

[alsch890]

Hi there,

During my first brew I realised that I had no tube from my mash tun into the FV (to be then poured from there back into the boiler given I have only one heat source). This means the wort was pouring at a height of approx 50cm into the FV. I read somewhere afterwards that you should not splash the wort whilst sparging. Given this will take a trip to the hardware store and some effort, what is the real cost/risk of doing it the way I did (the beer tasted alright).

I have the same situation when emptying from my boiler into FV but I understand this is not such an issue?

Cheers!

Allan

 

[Ajhutch]

Post-boil you're right; splashing is a good thing as it aerates the wort providing oxygen which the yeast need.

Pre-boil is a more contentious issue. Some people say that this hot-side aeration is a bad thing and some people swear it makes no difference. I've used a very similar setup to yours in the past and I did use a bit of silicon tubing; even ignoring the aeration debate it seemed worthwhile to me to minimise splashing at this stage to keep things from getting too messy.

 

[Dads_Ale]

I do not believe splashing from Mash tun is a problem. I use a 5 litre jug to transfer from mash tun to boiler. This saves having to clean a FV. The run off is slow so using a jug is not a problem and you can start the boils as soon as the element is covered.

Splashing from boiler to FV is encouraged as it helps aerate the wort. Again I use a 5 litre jug for this (I have several 5L jugs :smile:)

When you do not want splashing is from FV when fermentation is finished.

If your beer tastes fine then you are not doing much wrong :smile:

 

[alsch890]

Thanks guys, puts my mind at ease a little. I thought I had read that splashing from boiler to FV had a positive side, good to know.

Dads_Ale - The reason I can't sparge directly into my boiler is that the spare water is in there :) Hence have to use the FV. I know it is pretty primative but thought I would start basic and go from there.

I have a bottling stick so I don't get splash after fermentation thankfully!

 

[Dads_Ale]

Thanks guys, puts my mind at ease a little. I thought I had read that splashing from boiler to FV had a positive side, good to know.

Dads_Ale - The reason I can't sparge directly into my boiler is that the spare water is in there :) Hence have to use the FV. I know it is pretty primative but thought I would start basic and go from there.

I have a bottling stick so I don't get splash after fermentation thankfully!

Nothing primitive about it :). You need to have a system that suits you and still produces good beer :thumb:

Oh and once the bug takes hold you will be buying loads of other stuff :lol:

 

[foxy]

Whatever o2 you add by splashing into the boiler will come out during the boil, however some brewers do not like to add the first hops until the o2 has been boiled out.

 

[Thumper]

My understanding is that splashing pre-boil can aerate unsterilised, non-alcoholic wort, and thus encourage infection. I can't see why this would be a problem if you're about to boil it.

Of course, I've only done one kit so far, so my understanding could be way, way off :lol:

 

[peebee]

My understanding is that splashing pre-boil can aerate unsterilised, non-alcoholic wort, and thus encourage infection. I can't see why this would be a problem if you're about to boil it.

Of course, I've only done one kit so far, so my understanding could be way, way off :lol:

Not quite, but probably less nonsensical than the real reason:

"Hot-side aeriation" is supposed to create precursor compounds that much later develop into cardboard-like flavours. But the Brulosophy.com bunch who love discrediting these ideas concluded there was nothing to worry about.

I'm paranoid about getting the return jets under the surface of the mash when recirculating a HERMS system. But I forget, and I've not ruined a beer because of it. I'll carry on being paranoid though :wha:

 

[Simonh82]

The way that I have heard it explained is that hot side aeration is a thing, at least on a chemical level, but that for it to be noticeable everything you did would need to be perfect and at that point you might be able to notice a difference between two beers which had or hadn't had the oxygen exposure.

Also bear in mind that most of the research and industry concern about this type of issue would be in relation to industrial larger which are low colour, low flavour beers so would be much more likely to show up issues with oxidisation than a robustly flavoured ale.

I suspect any strong hop, malt or yeast flavours would overwhelm any difference hot side aeration made.

 

[MyQul]

Thanks guys, puts my mind at ease a little. I thought I had read that splashing from boiler to FV had a positive side, good to know.

Dads_Ale - The reason I can't sparge directly into my boiler is that the spare water is in there :) Hence have to use the FV. I know it is pretty primative but thought I would start basic and go from there.

I have a bottling stick so I don't get splash after fermentation thankfully!

My system is very 'primative' FV's for mash tuns, buckets and kitchen equipment and I do my boil on the kitchen hob. The advantage of more advanced sytems is that you have so much more control over every element. Also systems like the grain father and braumeister are very compact and good for brewing in a small area. But whether you have buckets and seives like me or a top of the range braumeister with all th bells and whistles, beer making is still always mash,boil, ferment and has been for a very long time

 

[Zephyr259]

I've been listening to the experimental brewing podcast the last few days and they ask their guests what they think is the biggest bit of false "common knowledge" and most say hot side aeration. Something the occurred to me recently is that the grainfather and similar systems drain the wort through the mash from a height so will massively aerate the wort as it falls into the boiler. Not heard of any issues with these systems so I'm leaning towards it being a myth. Basic Brewing radio (maybe with brulosophy) totally beat the hell out of some hot wort, I think they did notice a difference but it was minimal and they'd whisked the hot wort with a power drill!