Just recently switched to AG brewing and looking to get the most out of my basic system. Was thinking about my sparging system. So I have a 10 gallon igloo with false bottom that I use to sparge. Was thinking about drilling a hole in the lid so I can insert a shower head. Would buy another cooler to keep above it, a pot below to collect from my sparge tank. Thought was if I ran it through the lid I could minimize heat loss as opposed to a sparge arm as well as cut down on the costs, thoughts? Second thoughts, I could potentially also install a pump from bottom pot up to top cooler and potentially have a recirculating system only concern there would be keeping my temps up.
IMO you don't want to drill your lid and add a shower head. I have a similar round 10 gal cooler/false-bottom. I just open the lid and using a silicone hose let the sparge water run down the sides, never had a problem. Still don't understand the concerns others have about sparging, it's about the easiest thing I do. A tip to maintaining temp is to have your initial sparge water around 185F. The initial addition at this temp helps Mr. mash tun maintain heat. I let the sparge water temp drop off to the upper 160s as the process continues. I wouldn't bother with a pump either . . . just a good ole Hot Liquor Tank (former brew kettle) with a ball valve that feeds a sturdy silicone hose has served me well. KISS
Have you considered batch sparging? I've done fly and batch sparging and the efficiency on my system was the same. I just batch sparge now since it's easier and faster without any compromise in efficiency. It's worth trying before rigging up a more complicated system with more equipment.
Yeah I haven't tried fly sparging but I get good efficiency batch sparging and it just seems so much simpler...
Not sure if i'd rec or fly sparge, batch sparging will get you good efficiency and any gain in fly sparging doesn't always equal better beer. I've tried pretty much all methods and my best tasting beer has been with no-sparge method. So to echo portlargo KISS.
Batch sparge will work great for you. It was my approach for 10 years before I switched to BIAB a year ago. Could see myself going back
I fly sparge. I like it, and enjoy being able to adjust volumes on the fly, no pun intended. I used a ten gallon igloo as well, but have switched to a fifteen gallon set up. I like big beers and double batches.
I multi batch sparge, usually adding sparge water 2 times, 3 for big beers. A little more work but easy and good efficiency especially on big beers. Beers below 5abv get one sparging.
If you wanna do it. Go ahead. I used to fuss a lot about this part of the brew day an awful bit. It mostly just adds time, and headache. For the same results. I batch it now, and it seems to work just fine and it can cut an hour off the day.
I also use a round 10-gallon picnic cooler, and used to fly sparge but it became too much of a bother. Now I do a double batch sparge, and find the efficiency the same, if not better. I do a vorlaaf and then drain the initial mash, then add half of the sparge, stir it, let it settle for 10 minutes, do another vorlaaf, drain, then add the second sparge amount, let it settle for 10 minutes, vorlaaf, and drain. Never had a problem with this method.
