Steve - agreed, big boilers are the way to go!
But for those who are using a smaller capacity boiler it is possible to do what I and others do which is to collect the excess wort from the mash which won't fit into the boiler (safely) and use it to top up the boil as the wort evaporates.
I collect the excess and boil it up on the stove such that it's not going to knock the main boil temperature down when it's added. I top up the boiler a couple of times, once about half way through and finally just before power off.
Batch Sparging? Have you tried it yet?
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moorsd
Ahhhh it all makes sense now!! I've got an electrim boiler so about 23 Litres is all I ever aim for to avoid boil overs etc. A larger boiler makes sense as all sparge run off can be collected without having to worry about where to put the excess!
I guess I have always stopped sparging before all the sugar is dissolved (ie when I get to 23-24 Litres in the boiler) which is why I've never hit over 75% efficiency!
Cheers Guys...guess its something else to add to the xmas list!!
I guess I have always stopped sparging before all the sugar is dissolved (ie when I get to 23-24 Litres in the boiler) which is why I've never hit over 75% efficiency!
Cheers Guys...guess its something else to add to the xmas list!!
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PieOPah
One of my biggest problems was never having enough wort so I ended up having to top up with water (I batch sparge rather than fly sparge).
I have adjusted all my calculations and now I end up with more wort than will fit into my boiler. So, I use this wort to top up during the boil.
Another thing which has helped me out a lot is aiming for 35 pints instead of 40. Since my boiler is too small, even topped up to the max isn't goiing to boil me enough wort for the 40 pint.
I will be increasing the size of my boiler after christmas so this should help me out a lot
I have adjusted all my calculations and now I end up with more wort than will fit into my boiler. So, I use this wort to top up during the boil.
Another thing which has helped me out a lot is aiming for 35 pints instead of 40. Since my boiler is too small, even topped up to the max isn't goiing to boil me enough wort for the 40 pint.
I will be increasing the size of my boiler after christmas so this should help me out a lot
I'm not saying there isn't something in that, but I also have a electrim and top up with water during the boil, and I get better than 80% and have had as much as 90%, so it can't be the whole story.moorsd wrote:Ahhhh it all makes sense now!! I've got an electrim boiler so about 23 Litres is all I ever aim for to avoid boil overs etc. A larger boiler makes sense as all sparge run off can be collected without having to worry about where to put the excess!
I guess I have always stopped sparging before all the sugar is dissolved (ie when I get to 23-24 Litres in the boiler) which is why I've never hit over 75% efficiency!
Cheers Guys...guess its something else to add to the xmas list!!
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PieOPah
I guess the length of the boil would also effect your efficiency....
You could always boil for longer (you can still keep to your hop schedule) so that you use up all your wort and keep the extracted sugar
(when I say effect your efficiency, I am not talking about how much sugar you have extracted, rather the OG of your wort after you have topped up to the desired amount vs the 100% efficiency for the same volume)
You could always boil for longer (you can still keep to your hop schedule) so that you use up all your wort and keep the extracted sugar
(when I say effect your efficiency, I am not talking about how much sugar you have extracted, rather the OG of your wort after you have topped up to the desired amount vs the 100% efficiency for the same volume)
No, I usually just sparge 'till the boiler's as full as I dare risk. I test the runnings by sticking my finger under the tap and then having a taste - if I can't taste any hint of sugar, or there's any sign of bitterness I stop anyway, and top up the boiler up with water. Usually, that doesn't happen before the boiler's full though.DaaB wrote:Do you also collect excess wort and top off with that first though Jim(before you use water)? I seem to recall you still sparge until there are no more remaining sugars.Jim wrote:I'm not saying there isn't something in that, but I also have a electrim and top up with water during the boil, and I get better than 80% and have had as much as 90%, so it can't be the whole story.moorsd wrote:Ahhhh it all makes sense now!! I've got an electrim boiler so about 23 Litres is all I ever aim for to avoid boil overs etc. A larger boiler makes sense as all sparge run off can be collected without having to worry about where to put the excess!
I guess I have always stopped sparging before all the sugar is dissolved (ie when I get to 23-24 Litres in the boiler) which is why I've never hit over 75% efficiency!
Cheers Guys...guess its something else to add to the xmas list!!
I don't think anyone is saying a lager boiler is required to get good efficiency, larger boilers are just more convenient, reduce the risk of boil over and if your system allows, will accomadate a more vigerous boil.
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PieOPah
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moorsd
No, I usually just sparge 'till the boiler's as full as I dare risk. I test the runnings by sticking my finger under the tap and then having a taste - if I can't taste any hint of sugar, or there's any sign of bitterness I stop anyway, and top up the boiler up with water. Usually, that doesn't happen before the boiler's full though.
It's great to hear that I'm not the only one using this method...I was begining to think I was the only one!!
I guess if your getting high 80's then boiler size / sparging until SG gets to 1.006 can't be a massive issue especially since you appear to use the same methods as me?...Unless it has reached 1.006 and your tounge is more accurate than mine!
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SteveD
Well, all I know is that when I switched from boiling in my Electrim Bin to boiling in a 14 gallon bucket, my extraction efficiency went up an average of 10%, without changing anything else. I would point out that that is when sparging only until the boiler was as full as possible. It's the difference between collecting 5 gallons of wort, and collecting about 7 gals. Collecting the excess seperately, boiling seperately, and adding it back as capacity becomes available is a way around it, sure, but it's hassle.moorsd wrote:No, I usually just sparge 'till the boiler's as full as I dare risk. I test the runnings by sticking my finger under the tap and then having a taste - if I can't taste any hint of sugar, or there's any sign of bitterness I stop anyway, and top up the boiler up with water. Usually, that doesn't happen before the boiler's full though.
It's great to hear that I'm not the only one using this method...I was begining to think I was the only one!!
I guess if your getting high 80's then boiler size / sparging until SG gets to 1.006 can't be a massive issue especially since you appear to use the same methods as me?...Unless it has reached 1.006 and your tounge is more accurate than mine!
Cost.... Electrim Bin...... about £65 ish?
14 Gal Bucket....about £20? 2 x elements £30 (although you can get away with 1) Barrel tap £5, if you don't already have a spare
So, you can build a 14 gallon boiler (10 minutes work to cut the 2 or 3 holes necessary) for less than the cost of a 5 gallon Bruheat/Electrim. And, no more complication of the sparge/boil procedure on brew day. Makes sense to me!
Oh...and the simmerstat on a bruheat/electrim is useless if you're boiling...you go flat out anyway! May as well not be there.
Go on...you know it makes sense!
Cheers,
Steve