Sparging Questions

[harold pinter]

About to do my first all grain brew this weekend and I've just got the last minute jitters when I realise how little I know!

I'm going to batch sparge my grain and was wondering after the initial mash is complete and the first batch of wort is run off, should I add this back into the mash tun to filter it?

Also when I add the 2nd batch of water to the grain in the mash tun, should I mix it in or just add it gently so as not to disturb the grain bed?

Sorry if these are blatently obvious questions, but I wrote down a brew day step by step plan and instead of building up my confidence, it seems to be highlighting my increasing ignorance!

[Cheshire-cheese]

Using a 2 litre jug, I just return the first two or three jugfuls to the top of the mash

and as for sparging, I wouldn't disturb the grain bed.

[Hawkinspm]

Recirculate the first runnings into the mash tun as the above post.

As you are batch sparging, as I do, I would stir up the grain bed as well when I do the 2nd and 3rd batches ( you may just need 2 dependant on size). I then leave these for around 10 minutes to settle back down and recirculate again as per the first batch. Never had any problems so far using this method.

Good luck !!

Paul

[Cheshire-cheese]

Recirculate the first runnings into the mash tun as the above post.

As you are batch sparging, as I do, I would stir up the grain bed as well when I do the 2nd and 3rd batches ( you may just need 2 dependant on size). I then leave these for around 10 minutes to settle back down and recirculate again as per the first batch. Never had any problems so far using this method.

Good luck !!

Paul

Ah, I'm willing to accept a correction on my remark about the grain bed. I sprinkle hot water on the top as I go - would that be termed fly sparging?

[Tequilla6]

Yes it would...

[harold pinter]

Cheers for the info fella's. Can't wait to get started.

[farmhousekeg]

Recirculate the first runnings into the mash tun as the above post.

As you are batch sparging, as I do, I would stir up the grain bed as well when I do the 2nd and 3rd batches ( you may just need 2 dependant on size). I then leave these for around 10 minutes to settle back down and recirculate again as per the first batch. Never had any problems so far using this method.

Good luck !!

Paul

I'll second that - I'm no expert but just completed AG12 and all of mine are done as Paul describes above. I give the grains a good stir when adding the hot water to make up the first batch after the mash and then the same again with the 2nd batch. Leave it for 10 minutes to settle after you have added the water. In my case I catch the first runnings in a 1 litre jug and add them back into the Mash Tun. After a couple or 3 of these jug fulls, its usually clear enough to go ahead with the sparge. You may still get odd bits of grain and it might not be 100% crystal clear but don't worry it'll be fine!