Question for the batch spargers in the group. How do you determine the sparge water temperature to maintain a grain bed temperature in a certain range (I imagine the 168-170 degree range)? Is there an equation? I imagine it would have depend on mash temp (assume 152) and pounds of malt.
Thanks
Ben
After 440 batch sparged brews, I’ve reached the conclusion that it just doesn’t matter all that much. I sparge with water anywhere from 180-200 F and that gets my grain bed into the upper 160s. That’s good enough. If it’s lower than that, it doesn’t matter. If it’s a bit higher than that, it doesn’t matter as long as your pH is OK.
Nowhere near the experience of Denny but as a batch sparge I am usually between 170-180 sparge temp and get great results!
Been batch sparging for about a year and 1/2 now and I get my sparge water to about 185 -190, but as Denny mentioned above, I don’t worry if I’m a little under or over.
http://www.howtobrew.com/section3/chapter16-3.html
Thais is what you’re looking for.
Neither that, nor any other calculator I’ve used, has been able to accurately tell me how much to heat the water. I think it’s becasue coolers resist temp changes.
I sparge ~190. As said, a little over or under works out fine. The cooler resisting temp changes makes good sense. That’s what they’re made for after all.
IMO anything over 160° is just fine. Depending on your method of getting the sparge water into the mash tun. I lift and pour, so I don’t go above 170 for safety sake. Not that gallons of 170 would feel good, but 200 would be real bummer
I do what Denny says.
I like it hot to get all of the goodness in my boil kettle…190-195,
I use BeerTools Pro, and it calculates the infusion temperature with the heat capacity of the cooler taken into account. It allows me to hit the grain temperature quite accurately.
On the other hand, the grain temperature doesn’t need to be 168-170F for a batch sparge. So, like a lot of the others, I just add water that is somewhere in the 160-170F range and let the grain temperature fall where it may.
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Should include the ukulele picture on the shirt
I’d buy one!
+1
+2 - is it available in XXL tall?
Resurrection of a dead thread. I have the solution for you as I was trying to solve the same problem.
One user posted a link to how to brew. This is actually correct but you have to manipulate the infusion formula and solve for Tw.
Wa = your sparge water volume in quarts
Wm = total strike water - volume of wort collected in quarts
I made myself a calculator to use with excel. I’d be happy to share if anyone is interested.
You also need to account for the thermal mass of your mash tum.
I find that Beersmith accounts for the thermal mass as well and is very accurate as long as you have your equipment and parameters entered in properly at least in my limited brewing experience.
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