[IBU] New Batch Sparge Technique

[Cleghorn, Andy]

Did you take  pH and gravity readings on those final runnings?  Sounds
like a good idea if you are extracting a lot of extra tannins.  Big
jumps in efficiency make me a little nervous.  I normally just do a
continuous sparge until I get my 14.5 gallons of preboil or the gravity
coming out of the sparge hits about 1.016 - 1.020.  I average about 82 -
85% depending on the size of the beer.  When I get the mash tun really
full, I lose quite a bit of efficiency.

________________________________

From: ibu-bounces at iowabrewersunion.org
[mailto:ibu-bounces at iowabrewersunion.org] On Behalf Of Mike Young
Sent: Thursday, May 08, 2008 9:54 AM
To: amesbrewersleague at yahoogroups.com; Iowa Brewers Union
Subject: [IBU] New Batch Sparge Technique


While checking online forums, I came across a new batch sparge technique
that I tried last night for the first time.  Instead of equalizing the
first runnings and second runnings, I decreased the amount of sparge
water and added a third sparge.  This increased my efficiency by over
10% which I thought was pretty amazing. 
 
My standard procedure has been to mash in with about 1.4 qt/lb.  After
60 minutes, I would add enough water to get to half of my desired
pre-boil volume.  I would then add the remainder of my sparge water,
vorloff, and drain the mash tun.
 
What I tried last night only took about 5-10 minutes longer and was well
worth it.  Instead of adding a lot of water at the end of the mash, I
only added .5 gallons, stirred, and drained.  Then I added 2.5 gallons
of sparge water, stirred, and drained.  I followed up with a 3rd running
using my remaining 2.5 gallons of water.  
 
I calculated the recipe at 75% efficiency which is what I usually get.
After taking a refractometer reading, my wort was already at the SG it
was supposed to be after the boil.  Since it was supposed to be a fairly
low-gravity beer I ended up boiling a little less vigorously and only
increasing my gravity by 4 points instead of my usual 8.  But plugging
this recipe into beersmith with the gravity I would have gotten from a
vigorous boil, I got 87% efficiency.  This method will definitely become
my new SOP and I look forward to trying it out on some higher gravity
beers to see what kind of efficiency increase I get.
 
--Mike


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