I'm of the opinion that to tell someone you batch sparge is really nothing more than telling them you don't fly sparge. Other than that, we really don't know all that much about how you lauter your wort. I'm curious about people's opinion on some of the different variations of batch sparging. What works best, what are the pros/cons to each method etc. For example
Do you:
Have two runnings? Some have said the best and most efficient way to batch sparge is to have two equal runnings. This would mean adding a small volume of water to the mash at the end of the rest to account for grain absorption, dead space etc. let it run and then add a second round of water that will allow the second runnings to get you to your pre-boil volume.
pros - easy and quick
cons- extract efficiency isn't as high as if you have three runnings
Do you:
Have three runnings? Some will allow the wort to run before adding any volume of water. After the first runnings you will then be left to make up a large volume of water to get you to your pre-boil volume and this can then be broken up into two equal batch sparge rounds.
pros- greater extract efficiency
cons- more time
A variation of the three runnings is to add the grain absorption and dead space volume before your first runnings like you would for only two runnings. Only instead of only having one larger second running, you break that volume into two batch sparge round
Another variation of the three runnings is to pull some of the mash liquor out of the mash and heat it, after this volume is at the right temp you can add it back to bring the grist up to mash out temp. That leaves a greater volume of water to be split between two moderately sized batch sparged rounds. I think this probably the best for extract efficiency but makes for a rather long brew day between heating all the volumes and letting them all rest etc. I'm also wondering if this method could lead to astringent flavors coming from over sparging? I know some say that the gravity should be consistent for each runnings when batch sparging but I've taken gravity readings for the last few drops and it is well below 1.010 ( without temp correction)
Bottom line: Is there a BEST batch sparge method? The reason I ask is because my last few batches have had great efficiency numbers but I think I've noticed a slight astringency to them. I'm wondering if it would be worth it to just sacrafice a few efficiency points and shorten my brew day as well as the luxury of not having to worry about sparging too much
Thought?
Do you:
Have two runnings? Some have said the best and most efficient way to batch sparge is to have two equal runnings. This would mean adding a small volume of water to the mash at the end of the rest to account for grain absorption, dead space etc. let it run and then add a second round of water that will allow the second runnings to get you to your pre-boil volume.
pros - easy and quick
cons- extract efficiency isn't as high as if you have three runnings
Do you:
Have three runnings? Some will allow the wort to run before adding any volume of water. After the first runnings you will then be left to make up a large volume of water to get you to your pre-boil volume and this can then be broken up into two equal batch sparge rounds.
pros- greater extract efficiency
cons- more time
A variation of the three runnings is to add the grain absorption and dead space volume before your first runnings like you would for only two runnings. Only instead of only having one larger second running, you break that volume into two batch sparge round
Another variation of the three runnings is to pull some of the mash liquor out of the mash and heat it, after this volume is at the right temp you can add it back to bring the grist up to mash out temp. That leaves a greater volume of water to be split between two moderately sized batch sparged rounds. I think this probably the best for extract efficiency but makes for a rather long brew day between heating all the volumes and letting them all rest etc. I'm also wondering if this method could lead to astringent flavors coming from over sparging? I know some say that the gravity should be consistent for each runnings when batch sparging but I've taken gravity readings for the last few drops and it is well below 1.010 ( without temp correction)
Bottom line: Is there a BEST batch sparge method? The reason I ask is because my last few batches have had great efficiency numbers but I think I've noticed a slight astringency to them. I'm wondering if it would be worth it to just sacrafice a few efficiency points and shorten my brew day as well as the luxury of not having to worry about sparging too much
Thought?