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Sparging simplified???
I am a fairly new HB'er. I started with kits, moved on to extract recipies, now, I want to go AG. I have picked up most of the extra equipment I will need, and I understand most of the process. I am a little confused about sparging. Exactly how do you "sprinkle" 170 degree water over the grain bed? If someone could clue me in on some methods, I will be grateful.
I personally think that batch sparging is about as simple as it can get for sparging and does not require you sprinkle the water on. Check out this web site http://hbd.org/cascade/dennybrew/
This is the method I use for sparging, as it is usually cheaper for the equipment and requires less time. You may or may not get poorer effeciency, so you may have buy an extra pound or so of grain, but the last time I brewed, I was 75% and 80%, which is pretty decent for a homebrewer.
Most people that fly sparge (which is probably the most popular homebrew sparge method) come up with some sort of sprinkler system using something like PVC or copper tubing with a bunch of holes. They have a ball valve off of their hot liquor tank (HLT) to control the rate of flow from the HLT to the lauter tun. The goal is to try to maintain the same amount of water entering the lauter tun as is draining out of it duing the sparge. This gets a bit more complicated and is a bit more time consuming. The upshot is that in general you do get better effeciencies through fly sparging.
I'm with Norcalnewb, I batch sparge...but don't make the same initial mistake I did, when you batch sparge you have to load in your sparge water and then let your grist settle again for awhile, about 30 mins or so before draining...also, don't forget to vorlauf again when draining into your boil kettle...
Having said that....I've been wondering if a person could make a fly sparge set up using those "arizona" sprinklers....at least that's what I've heard them called...they're a very fine mister plug that are used with pvc pipe systems...I know that isn't much of an answer, just something to foster some thought....
Haven't tried batch yet, but I would like to at some point.
I use a 12 gallon wine bucket (didn't know how to plumb a cooler at the time), with typical copper tubing at the bottom. Anyway, what I did was bought an el cheap plastic spaghetti strainer I think at a dollar store one day. I actually bought it for spaghetti, oddly enough. Since nothing else I had gave me the results I wanted, I tried it instead. It worked excellent!
I take a small measuring cup full of sparge water from my kettles, then slowly but steadily pour it over the strainer, in the middle or on the sides, so it rains down into the mash tun.
This has been my method for over a year and it works like a champ.
Probably not the most efficient method, but I have had no problems with it since I began.
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