Batch vs fly sparge

[Jim Blockley]

Hi Folks,

I'm just putting together a to-do list for the first AG brewday. I’ve read a few posts about sparging, and just wondered if anyone had any thoughts about the relative merits of batch sparging or normal (is it called fly sparging?).

Originally I was going to pour the sparge liquor through a funnel and watering-can rose arrangement, but I like the sound of the simplicity of batch sparging.

My mash tun is an insulated bucket arrangement with a 23l capacity so there’s plenty of room.

Does it make that much difference to the finished product?

Thanks again for all your help.

Jim.

[Underthethumb]

Fly sparging is generally more efficient but batch sparging is a lot more straightforward. I have used batch sparging on 26 brews without a problem.

For a first attempt i'd go with batch sparging, but that's me.

Good luck with your first brew - post pictures if you can in the 'brewday section'

[SamT]

IIRC correctly (and tbf, if I don't someone will be along to correct me soon) batch sparging is quicker, requires less equipment (you don't need an HLT to keep the liquor at a constant temperature whilst you're sparging, or a sparge arm), you don't have to worry about channeling in the grain bed, but you lose a few points of gravity

I batch sparge and have never had any problems with it

[Jim Blockley]

Great stuff fellas, cheers.

[Jim Blockley]

I was just thinking, how much wort should I collect for the boiler? I read that the hops will soak up some of the wort during the boil, so reckon I'll need to boil more than the 23l I want in the FV... but how much?

The recipe is:
3900g pale malt
205g crystal
32g fuggles at start
32g golding at start
21g golding last 10mins

Reckon I need to get my head round using brewing software as folk keep suggesting!

Thanks for your time.

[Horden Hillbilly]

Here you go, nice & straightforward.

http://www.jimsbeerkit.co.uk/batchcalc.php

[Jim Blockley]

Nice one, thanks.

[Brownster]

IIRC correctly (and tbf, if I don't someone will be along to correct me soon) batch sparging is quicker, requires less equipment (you don't need an HLT to keep the liquor at a constant temperature whilst you're sparging, or a sparge arm), you don't have to worry about channeling in the grain bed, but you lose a few points of gravity

I batch sparge and have never had any problems with it

Hi Sam,
Do you adjust the grain bill up to compensate at all? I was just wondering if you follow recipes like in the GW book and find you need to add a bit more to get the right OG or do you just go with a slightly weaker brew?
I've only ever fly sparged but often wondered about giving batch sparging a go!

Cheers,
Wayne.

[Rick_UK]

Have only ever batch sparged but usually get at least 85% efficiency. Not sure if it really is less efficient...

[guypettigrew]

Fly sparging is more fun, though. You get to use a whizzy rotating brass sprinkler arm. Makes you feel like you're a proper brewery!

I've always fly sparged. By keeping the liquor about 2cm above the grain bed you know all the grain is getting constantly rinsed by the hot liquor. No stirring or time for settling needed. Takes about 30 minutes to run 20 litres of hot sparge liquor through 5 kilos or so of grain.

Guy

[Matt12398]

If you want to end up with 23 litres you'll have to start with a lot more than 23 litres. You can expect losses to grain, losses to hops, losses to boil off, dead spaces. My boil off is about 4 litres per hour. Also I aim to get 25 litres in the fermenter to account for any losses to the trub.

[Brownster]

Fly sparging is more fun, though. You get to use a whizzy rotating brass sprinkler arm. Makes you feel like you're a proper brewery!

I've always fly sparged. By keeping the liquor about 2cm above the grain bed you know all the grain is getting constantly rinsed by the hot liquor. No stirring or time for settling needed. Takes about 30 minutes to run 20 litres of hot sparge liquor through 5 kilos or so of grain.

Guy

I haven't gone the whole 'rotating sprinkler arm' thing yet My mash tun came with a very basic sparging plate, nothing fancier than a rectangular piece of stainless steel drilled all over with lots of small holes - just place on top of the grain bed and gently jug water over the top, I hit the brew house efficiency of 75% used in the GW book which is good enough for me
Still, I like the idea of a rotating sparge arm, think I've got some copper pipe and bits and pieces in the workshop ....

Wayne.

[Dave S]

I batch sparge and for the last 5 or 6 brews have always reached a higher OG than the calculated value, and that's allowing for 81% extract potential. It seemed to coincide with me stopping using Baird's malt and moving to Warminster. Baird's always gave me a lower OG. So I too question whether batch sparging is less efficient than fly.

[Rick_UK]

Think i'll have to have a go at rudimentary flysparging with some holey tin foil and a jug to test if it is more or less efficient with my set up - purely out of curiosity and the desire to experiment!

Rick

[Capped]

I only started batch-sparging about two years back, after twenty-odd years of fly. Been kicking myself ever since for not switching earlier. Fly= fiddly,messy,tedious and prone to going very wrong if you're not on the ball, and not very efficient. Batch= simple,clean,almost foolproof and excellent efficiency. That's how I see things,anyroad.