Just done my sixth AG brew and did a slight variation to GWs Old Speckeld, and now I'm wondering if I stop sparging too early!!! Of course My boiler only takes 27 Liters and I tend to get 2L evaporation and another one that is lost with the trub, so it fits nicely in the fermenter but, what about the waste liquor.
I was keeping an eye on the gravity readings from the run off and realised that by the time I've got my 27L for the boiler, I'm still getting runnings of about 1009 gravity. So where should I stop, as I could always top up the boiler after an hour or so....? (Colour was fading but still there)
Anyone have a set pattern?
Final runnings
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Pooky
Re: Final runnings
Some people stop at 1.005 personaly I never bother to check 
for a 23L (5 Gallons) brew, I always use a total of 32L of water no matter what i'm brewing, after my boil I always have 5 gallons in my fermenter & my gravity is always spot on, if you are at 1.009 keep going and get a bit more ale 
for a 23L (5 Gallons) brew, I always use a total of 32L of water no matter what i'm brewing, after my boil I always have 5 gallons in my fermenter & my gravity is always spot on, if you are at 1.009 keep going and get a bit more ale -
Bigveees
Re: Final runnings
Ahh, yes energy saving. That is a good point, as I am fly sparging and treating the liqour I sparge with I will do some late ph checks as I was unaware of spiking ph figures late on in the process.
Everybrew is another lesson learned.
Cheers
Everybrew is another lesson learned.
Cheers
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Dr. Dextrin
Re: Final runnings
I think you need to be aware of the OG of your brew in deciding when to stop sparging. For a weaker beer (say below 1040), you have more liquor per kg of grain, so it stands to reason that if you sparge to give the same final volume, you'll be rinsing the grain more thoroughly and potentially over-sparging.
For beer of about 1044 and above, I never bother to check and just use the late runnings (and use them to top up the boiler) because they're always still sweet. For weaker beers, however, I'm more careful and taste to check for sweetness before using them.
For beer of about 1044 and above, I never bother to check and just use the late runnings (and use them to top up the boiler) because they're always still sweet. For weaker beers, however, I'm more careful and taste to check for sweetness before using them.
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Bigveees
Re: Final runnings
Not a problem when you have a free supply of strips coming your wayChris-x1 wrote:If you have an accurate ph meter then it does no harm to sample the ph although it would be a bit wasteful/expensive to use strips.
OK guys I'll keep this all in mind and check the PH when I take it too the limits!
Cheers