Increasing my efficiency idea?

Discussion in 'Homebrewing' started by Jasonja1474, Mar 3, 2021.

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  1. Jasonja1474

    Jasonja1474 Savant (1,100) Oct 15, 2018 Tennessee
    Trader

    So I want to run a idea by you guys to see what your thoughts were. I have a 10.5g anvil foundry and a 6.5g anvil foundry also. I currently use the 6.5g to heat my sparge water. What if I mash in on my 10.5g as normal and after mashing and recirculating for a set period of time, I then transferred the wort to the 6.5g and “remash” with water from a spare kettle brought up to mash temp and mash recirculate again. Then drain the grains and press what I can out and transfer the first mash wort back to the 10.5g kettle? Is there a name for this method already or would I be wasting my time and just keep on keeping on with how I been doing it?
     
  2. VikeMan

    VikeMan Grand Pooh-Bah (3,067) Jul 12, 2009 Pennsylvania
    Pooh-Bah

    I'd call that a prolonged batch sparge. But unless there is otherwise some sort of problem with conversion or with getting the sparge water thoroughly mixed with the grain bed, I don't see how it would increase efficiency, compared to just adding that sparge water to the (drained) grains. mixing, and doing your second drain right away.
     
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  3. Prep8611

    Prep8611 Savant (1,208) Aug 22, 2014 New Jersey

    What is your efficiency that you worry about it? I routinely hit 70% and consider that great. I don’t do anything besides crush finer. I don’t see the use in changing the way I brew to chase a few efficiency points on a Homebrew level.
     
  4. dmtaylor

    dmtaylor Savant (1,149) Dec 30, 2003 Wisconsin

    I agree with @VikeMan. That's really just a batch sparge. Volumes and boiloffs are key. If you collect twice as much wort, you'll need to boil twice as long, but it will increase your efficiency significantly to 90% or more, because basically you would be getting maximum sugars out of the grains then concentrating it down a lot. Whereas, if you do like most people including myself and adjust your volumes to result in a more "normal" total amount of preboil wort, then you would be doing an effective batch sparge, and the effect on your efficiency will improve slightly compared to doing the whole mash all at once without a sparge, but probably not much beyond 80%-ish (maybe 83-84% roughly max).

    All of this assumes a decent crush of the malt. If your crush is poor, your efficiency will be lower than the max numbers I've given above, but improved over whatever you were getting before. IF it matters.
     
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  5. Naugled

    Naugled Pooh-Bah (1,944) Sep 25, 2007 New York
    Pooh-Bah

  6. drewmuni

    drewmuni Initiate (0) Oct 18, 2019 California
    Trader

    I'm running a 6.5 too and hitting around 66% looking to increase. Do you know the specific size of your crush?
     
  7. VikeMan

    VikeMan Grand Pooh-Bah (3,067) Jul 12, 2009 Pennsylvania
    Pooh-Bah

    I'm not a BIABer, but the ones I know that want to maximize mash efficiency are crushing their grains into near dust and letting the bag/basket continue to drip into the wort through at least part of the boil.
     
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  8. JoeSpartaNJ

    JoeSpartaNJ Zealot (691) Feb 5, 2008 New Jersey

    The best efficiency I have gotten so far is 64%. I'm going to try to double crush my grains and mash for 90 minutes next time to see if it improves at all.
     
  9. Prep8611

    Prep8611 Savant (1,208) Aug 22, 2014 New Jersey

    I crush at 0.30 on my mill gap. Slightly tighter than a credit card. My crush is pretty dusty. I don’t sparge but I do squeeze pretty squeeze pretty well for a full volume mash.
     
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  10. dmtaylor

    dmtaylor Savant (1,149) Dec 30, 2003 Wisconsin

    IMO with BIAB, a small sparge/rinse is better than just squeezing alone. Mash with a little less water, then try dunking into or pouring a gallon or two of hot water over the grain bag after it's pulled, then squeeze as normal. You'll gain a few efficiency points. IF you care.
     
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