Sparge Question

[floydmeddler]

My mash tun is pretty big. Is it possible for me to mash with my usual amount of water then after 90 mins, tip in ALL the remaining sparge water, let it sit for 10 mins then drain off my 30L at once? Or will this mess my efficiency up? Really don't see how it would.

Cheers

[Scooby]

If you washing machine was really big would it rinse better with one big rinse or with 2 or 3 smaller ones?

[boingy]

2 batches are best.

[floydmeddler]

Cheers... Wasn't getting my hopes up. Brewing is never that simple!

[loffler]

I concur - I usually batch sparge with 2 batches and 10 mins between run offs. I always get 75% this way.
My last brew I simply let it all run through and only measured 65% so does make a big differnce.

[booldawg]

To add to this; when you batch sparge do you add batch 1's liquor to the mash water and run it off together or do you run off the mash water seperately and then add your first batch to the mash tun?

[booldawg]

Yep, thanks Chris, it was a general question. Just wanted to make sure I was batch spargining correctly!

[Scooby]

There are other ways of sparging in batches that can be used to accommodate your equipment. The one Chris mentions is possibly the best way if you tun is big enough, mine wont hold the grain and 1/2 my preboil volume so my 1st run off is mash only then 2 equal batches. I have my total liquor for the brew in the HLT, whats left after the mash is split in 2 for the sparge.