23 replies to this topic

[Brauer]

This is all great info guys, thanks very much. My usual batch sparge efficiency is about 80%. Maybe I should just build a recipe as I normally would, brew the beer and see what the eff hit is? or maybe assume I'll take a 10% hit?

I no-sparge primarily, in a cooler mash tun, and my efficiency drops from 87%, for a batch sparge, to 75%. That's with 100% conversion as Nettles describes.

I've talked to a few brewers who were getting batch sparge efficiencies in the 70s, that got nearly the same efficiency from no-sparge. That might be due to the improved conversion some brewers see with thinner mashes, but losses to absorption and dead volume prevent it from going much over 75% in a cooler. So, I expect you will lose 5-10% efficiency if you are getting 80% with a sparge.

Brew in a bag brewers can get over 80% efficiency from a no sparge, apparently thanks to the lower loss to adsorption.

[shaggaroo]

I no-sparge primarily, in a cooler mash tun, and my efficiency drops from 87%, for a batch sparge, to 75%. That's with 100% conversion as Nettles describes.
I've talked to a few brewers who were getting batch sparge efficiencies in the 70s, that got nearly the same efficiency from no-sparge. That might be due to the improved conversion some brewers see with thinner mashes, but losses to absorption and dead volume prevent it from going much over 75% in a cooler. So, I expect you will lose 5-10% efficiency if you are getting 80% with a sparge.
Brew in a bag brewers can get over 80% efficiency from a no sparge, apparently thanks to the lower loss to adsorption.

Dankesehr. I suspect I'll do my next brew as you do, no sparge, in a cooler mash tun. Now to figure the logistics of transferring that much hot water ...

[positiveContact]

Does your kettle have a drain?

I just drain with gravity to the mash tun.

Otherwise you could just scoop with a Pyrex cup or something.

[shaggaroo]

Does your kettle have a drain?

I just drain with gravity to the mash tun.

Otherwise you could just scoop with a Pyrex cup or something.

In fact it does have a drain... so I'll have to do some thinking