Sure. It's when you collect a couple gallons of wort in a container (I used a pitcher), and pour it back over the top of the grain bed. This helps the bed settle and act as a filter. If you do enough of it, your wort will get very clear, which helps the final product!
The process is called the vourlauf. The first quart or so is going to have bits of grist in it until it settles. You collect this first bit and pour it back on the grain bed so as not to waste it..
1. To keep the natural filter of the grain bed in tact.
2. To keep the water from being "channeled", which will hurt the efficiency of the sparge. Ideally there is at least an inch of water that covers the grain bed and allows the wort to "settle" and rinse all the grains and not just the ones in the center of the mash tun. Hopefully that makes sense!
If you drain the water first you are actually "batch sparging". Continuously adding water to the top, keeping the grain bed covered is considered fly sparging. Draining the tun, then filling it and draining again is considered batch sparging. I personally prefer fly because it takes less work and produces a more clear product (thanks to the filter). Batch usually has slightly better efficiency and can take less time.
Debateable. I find nothing easier than draining... adding more water and draining again. I don't like fussing with the input/output trying to keep them equal. And my beers have been equally as clear no matter which method I have used.
And it gets debated all the time at our club meetings! Bottom line is that results really depend on the setup and procedures, and both methods can produce positive results..
Just to clarify: Batch sparging results in LESs efficiency, not more. Barge sparge = less time, less equipment. Fly sparge = more time, better efficiency.
I've always seen slightly better efficency when batch sparging, so I'll have to disagree. Again, it really has more do do with your system and technique than "fly" versus "batch", and you can get good results with either method.
Brilliant
Sirchud68 8 months ago
That's a neat way to fly sparge. Thumbs up for creativity :)
nostalgia75 1 year ago
I actually said "recirculated", but the answer is the same :)
sapperox 3 years ago
please explain what you mean by recycling?
iParatrooper 3 years ago
Sure. It's when you collect a couple gallons of wort in a container (I used a pitcher), and pour it back over the top of the grain bed. This helps the bed settle and act as a filter. If you do enough of it, your wort will get very clear, which helps the final product!
sapperox 3 years ago
The process is called the vourlauf. The first quart or so is going to have bits of grist in it until it settles. You collect this first bit and pour it back on the grain bed so as not to waste it..
Homebrew58 2 years ago
why dont you want to disturb the grains when dumping the water?
axoll 3 years ago
1. To keep the natural filter of the grain bed in tact.
2. To keep the water from being "channeled", which will hurt the efficiency of the sparge. Ideally there is at least an inch of water that covers the grain bed and allows the wort to "settle" and rinse all the grains and not just the ones in the center of the mash tun. Hopefully that makes sense!
sapperox 3 years ago
ok, I see now, another question, when do you start fly sparging? do you drain the water that is already there first? or at the same time?
axoll 3 years ago
If you drain the water first you are actually "batch sparging". Continuously adding water to the top, keeping the grain bed covered is considered fly sparging. Draining the tun, then filling it and draining again is considered batch sparging. I personally prefer fly because it takes less work and produces a more clear product (thanks to the filter). Batch usually has slightly better efficiency and can take less time.
sapperox 3 years ago
Debateable. I find nothing easier than draining... adding more water and draining again. I don't like fussing with the input/output trying to keep them equal. And my beers have been equally as clear no matter which method I have used.
Homebrew58 2 years ago
And it gets debated all the time at our club meetings! Bottom line is that results really depend on the setup and procedures, and both methods can produce positive results..
sapperox 2 years ago
Just to clarify: Batch sparging results in LESs efficiency, not more. Barge sparge = less time, less equipment. Fly sparge = more time, better efficiency.
homebrewzter 2 years ago
I've always seen slightly better efficency when batch sparging, so I'll have to disagree. Again, it really has more do do with your system and technique than "fly" versus "batch", and you can get good results with either method.
sapperox 2 years ago 2
I've see that to be the truth... regardless of batch or fly, bad process, execution or equipment = bad efficiency.
I know guys that swear by batch sparging and get 85%+ efficiency with it. Its just about the brewer and his technique.
jimconnors 2 years ago
on the garbage cans bro????????? you must be makin Oscar the Grouch brew !!!
yeaheverday 3 years ago
I was thinking the same thing!
locomotives420 2 years ago
nothing like boilin in an aluminum kettle!
bm5447 3 years ago
Nothing wrong with aluminum.
Homebrew58 2 years ago
Is that a 5gal rubbermaid cooler from Lowes? I was under the impression that a 10gal cooler was more desireable??
OPE08 4 years ago
Yes, either works fine but the 5gal obviously can't hold as much grain.
sapperox 4 years ago
I like the effort man but it would be much better if you can turn off the TV when you're doing your voiceover.
BobbyFromNJ 4 years ago