Beer Making, Part 2: The Sparge

[PowerliftingWSM]

Hot water against plastic... aren't you worried about bpa getting into your brew? Doesnt seem too healthy to me.

[broken14us]

how big is the false bottom and where did you get it

[MindfulMalcolm]

well - not a spigot - but a hole drilled into the side of the bucket with a hose clamp - hehe. Hey - if it works!

[MindfulMalcolm]

He didnt seem to have a ball valve on his HTL (hot liquid tank) - I am referring to the one used for heating - sp he heats it then xfers it to the top of his 3-tier system. The bucket did have a spigot of some sort - which allows for his ghetto sparge sytem. I used to do the same thing.

[dvdfrnzwbr]

Why did he transport his sparge water from a metal pot, which he used to heat it, into a plastic bucket before sparging it onto the mash tun. Maybe for measurment? Can anyone comment.

[deathrail]

"it goes brittle after a few....... hundred batches" lol thats awesome

[brichards700]

i'm baffled. when you recirc the beers goes back into the lauter tun not the brew kettle until the beer is running clear. Vorlauf it is called. It also helps set your grain bed.

[BobbyFromNJ]

What makes you think he poured the 1/2 gallon into the kettle? Of course he poured it back over the grainbed.

[brichards700]

Well then you are correct, he recirculated a half gallon of wort. Would you really call that recirculating? Isn't the point of the vorlauf to run it clear before you go to the kettle instead of just pull a half gallon and then call it good. But hey, it's not my system and if it works for him then great. I was just confused by him calling it recirculating. As long as he's making good beer, keep doing it that way.

[BobbyFromNJ]

I never had to vorlauf more than a half gallon to get it to clear.

[brichards700]

Really? Your wort runs clear after a half gallon. Do you mean Chuck-free or clear? I use a pitcher that is about a half gallon in size and I usually go through about 5 of those at least before my grain bed is set up just right to where my wort is looking real clear. This is typical of what I've seen others do as well on other systems. Whats your secret?

[BobbyFromNJ]

Clear no, husk free yes. You're going to clear it with hot break in the kettle anyway. My beers finish crystal clear with no astringency.

[brichards700]

Well then you are correct, he recirculated a half gallon of wort. Would you really call that recirculating? Isn't the point of the vorlauf to run it clear before you go to the kettle instead of just pull a half gallon and then call it good. But hey, it's not my system and if it works for him then great. I was just confused by him calling it recirculating. As long as he's making good beer, keep doing it that way.

[thurstonstanley]

I've been brewing for years but I didn't start sparging util recently! Hot water is one thing, but I just can't get past the idea of pouring the sticky-run off back into the mash when I worked so hard to rinse it out (of the grain bed) and into the boiling pot. It must take forever to get the run-off clear just using wort. Thanks again for your reply. I'm bottling this weekend and sure am envious of all those kegs in your cold room. One of these days...

[thurstonstanley]

Hi John,

Can you explain the process of recirculating the wort? Is it part of the sparging process? I've read about it and you did it to a small extent but I'm too stupid to figure it out on my own. Like your set up.

Cheers!

[JohnRockwell]

That's exactly it. Some folks will use a pump and continue to put he runoff back into the mash tun until the runoff is clear.

[aj19fleming]

@JohnRockwell Recirculating isn't so much of a sparge technique (which helps with sugar extractions). Rather, recirculation causes the wort to clear itself up. By repeatedly puring your wort over the grain bed, the grains serve as a natural filter by grabbing small particles.

[pointyelbo]

I'm jealous of your temp controlled room. Unfortunately I live in an apartment and can't do that.

So far, because of temperature, I've only been able to make Ales and Stouts, no Lagers.

Got any advice on how I could make Lagers without keeping my house at 45 degrees?

[JohnRockwell]

Get a separate fridge, and put it on an external temp control.

[pirateale]

hhah

that is a sick temp control you have going on that ist vid

[hunglikegod]

damned dogs! keep the videos coming man!

what do you recommend for a newb?

i just made a brew with a mr. beer setup i got for christmas and i'm ready to start a real batch. i'd like it to come out something like fat tire or newcastle but i'm lost on mashing process. also, have you ever done any apple cider brewing? my parents have an apple orchard and while i love apple pie, it would be nice to have something to drink with it. :) thanks bro

[tahanlaoboy]

very nice man I learn something from the brew master. good jobbbbbbbb

[sabek210]

dude. stop drinking and clean up your yard.... haha. good luck with your beer.

[JohnRockwell]

Good advice, but I think I'd rather drink than play with a lawnmower...

[JohnRockwell]

Yep. Backyard. In front, it's a tract. In the back, it's like walking back in time.

[FellowJello]

Is this all at your House John? Looks like you have quite the homebrewery!

Jello

[mirakles305]

love the dog