Hello,
I found myself a really nice recipe that I want to try to brew in the Grainfather. I want to brew this: Malty Boye Helles Bock - Beer Recipe - American Homebrewers Association
Can anyone tell me how much water I have to start with, and have to use during sparing?
I’d use the Grainfather calculator
You probably can access the information from the grainfather website, but if you want to calculate it, you will have to make some assumptions. The grain absorption rate will be approximately one pint per pound of grain. 13 lbs of grain means 13x.125 gallons=1.625 gallons absorbed. The boil off rate probably will be a galloon for an hour. You may have greater losses, though, based on the system and other factors (boil duration, intensity and humidity level). Give it a shot with a total of around 8.25-8.5 gallons total, half as strike and half as sparge, but you can do all at once (the pH is key on that - you will need to consult a water calculator to get that right).
This was quick and dirty, so others may be more precise, especially those who use the Grainfather…Cheers!
I don’t have a grainfather but I do routinely use 8.5 gal total (strike + sparge) for most of my beers. Knowing grain absorption will automatically eliminate ~1.5 gal. as calculated (above), I like use 5 gal strike and 3.5 gal batch sparge in an attempt to equal out the 1st and 2nd runnings.
+1
A Grainfather in the US on 120V will not boil off anywhere near a gal. per hr. The Grainfather calculator takes that into account, which is why it’s best to use that.
Gotcha- the easier boil would work into my comments just the opposite of boil vigor…I should have anticipated that, although I checked with a neighbor about it since he uses the GF. He has a wrap for the GF and boils off about .75 gallon per hour with lid off in his garage. YMMV, of course. That’s why there’s a handbook for it, evidently.
It’s a good idea for the OP to calculate his own grain absorption and boil off losses. Knowing your these figures for your system will go a long way towards calculating your volumes.
I don’t know if you’ve used a Grainfather, but their software estimates of those are remarkably consistent and accurate
No, I have to admit I’ve never used any of the coffee urn style systems.
Then I reiterate the OP should use the Grainfather calculator. That’s what it’s there for.
I would agree- I found the Foundry handbook water calc tables to be spot on with that system. IIRC it even provides different calculations for the 120V vs 240V (at 100% power).
Same with the GF.