Efficiency drop on bigger beers

[QldKev]

I batch sparge, for higher OG beers, I split the sparge water up into multiple batches. For a 1040-1050 beers, a single batch, 1050-70 two sparges and higher three. Gets me a consistent 80-82% efficiency.

Just need to make sure that sparge water is properly treated with salts (no carbonates) and acid if needed.

I believe in multiple sparges for bigger beers too. I only started doing them as I really need a bigger HLT for my 3V system. I did a batch the other day at 1.072, and found the second sparge runnings to be at 7 brix. Ended up at 87% pre-boil eff. For a comparison I normally get around 85% for a normal beer with a single batch sparge. What blew me away was I did a third sparge to see if I could get a parti-gyle happening, and I let the sparge water recirc for 10-15min as I go pulled away from it. Even the third runnings were 7 brix.

 

[fraser_john]

as in recirc first sparge?

Moad, Not 100% sure what you mean by this question..

But, batch sparge is a way of sparging in batches, in my case if I have 22 litres sparge water, I'll split that into two sparges, each 11 litres each, process is:
1) drain wort into kettle
2) sparge with first 11 litres water, recirc till clear
3) drain first sparge into kettle
4) sparge with second 11 litres water, recirc till clear
5) drain second sparge into kettle

 

[Ducatiboy stu]

as in recirc first sparge?

YES. ( and every runnings ) This helps rinse out da sugaz

I re-circ all my sparges untill the sparge liqiud runs clear. This also help keep kettle trub to a minimum as well.

 

[Ducatiboy stu]

Sounds like a beer that did well in the NSW comp this year. Stuster made a long-boil Wee Heavy. Gorgeous.

That is how Scottish Heavy is made. Long boil caramelises the sugars and increases the SG

 

[Moad]

YES. ( and every runnings ) This helps rinse out da sugaz

I re-circ all my sparges untill the sparge liqiud runs clear. This also help keep kettle trub to a minimum as well.

I see, I have only been doing single sparge but I have HERMS so it is recirculating during the mash anyway. In order to do multiple sparges would I need another vessel to store half of the hot liquor?

 

[Ducatiboy stu]

You only need your kettle. You run each sparge into the kettle when you finish recirculating