Grainfather - Using separate BK

[donnchadhc]

After a number of years in an Apartment, it finally looks like we're buying a house  Of course that means man cave negotiations with SWIMBO. Looks like space will be tight as the garden isn't massive so looking at the grainfather for most economic use of space.

Thing is I like batch sparging and my old BK is still doing the business (2 no. 3kw elements in a 70 litre bucket). Would like to ask those who use the GF could you transfer the wort to a separate BK add in 10 litres of sparge water and batch sparge (basically remash with the sparge water)? Added benefit would be you could be bringing the wort up to boil temps whilst the batch sparge was taking place.

Thanks for the advice.

[Damofto]

I'm a Bulldog owner but I reckon you'd lose efficiency by doing that.  The grainfather's achieve around 90% efficiency through the recirculation of the wort and the fly sparge and I wouldn't be inclined to change it.  You can be heating your wort in the grainfather while fly sparging too.     

[DEMPSEY]

As said. Only reason I can see for you doing this is to brew a bigger volume than the grainfather brews. The grainfather is ideal for 20 to 22 litter batches,all fully sparged.

[donnchadhc]

The question is mostly due to the GF having only a 2.5 kW element, I've 2 x 3 kW in my current BK. Getting up to the boil is a doddle with the two elements.

Efficiency is only important to me for recipe creation and consistency, cutting down a bit of time would be more important to me.

[vinyljunkie]

The grainfather does be in the low-mid 90c by the time I'm finished sparging - I'd say it would be even higher with the graincoat.

[Simon_]

Why not use the old BK to heat the sparge water? Because you can only set it on / off (no temp contol)?

[johnrm]

Best of luck with the house!

Depending on the recipe, you could do a no-sparge - Many BM users do this.

If you drain wort to your 6kW system you're going to speed up your boil. Nothing wrong with this, but you have the extra cleanup, so is it really worth it?

If space is a concern, do you _really_ want to take the 70l 6kW Beesht out?
Also, GF have a super-dee-duper controller that manages your mash, boil, makes tea etc. Why complicate things?

I have Mash Tun and a few jugs going spare if you want to skip the mash part!

[donnchadhc]

I'm an engineer, this maybe a clear example of over thinking things......

Thinking of using the BK as HLT for Sparge water and the GF can do the rest. Could be a backup for big volumes or big beers needing a double mash. Also if I want to do back to back, could work nicely

[DEMPSEY]

Hah over thinking things never done that before 

[johnrm]

BK as HLT, sorted. KISS.