Sparge is not a function of grain weight - it’s by kettle volume. You’re also forgetting that the grain is going to absorb ~1.5 gallons of wort (0.125 gallons per lb). So if you want to put six gallons in the kettle, subtract the first runnings to find the sparge: 6 - (3.71 - 1.5) = ~3.75 gallons.
I think that makes sense. The only part I dont understand is the bit about Sparge being a function of kettle volume. Are you saying that the amount of sparge water you should use is dictated by the size of your kettle? That doesn’t make sense to me.
I’m pulling this from memory so please don’t quote me on this. I batch sparge, but I did go to an AG class at NB Milwaukee. the instructor took running using a refractometer through out the sparge,and at a certain point you will get gravity readings on your runnings less than 1.010?, at which point it serves no further purpose to keep collecting the runnings. The most important thing was to get the correct preboil gravity more than the volume. If I remember correctly from the class our volumes were a little low, but we did leave water in the HLT, but got correct gravities. Please feel free to correct me if I misremembered.
I think that makes sense. The only part I dont understand is the bit about Sparge being a function of kettle volume. Are you saying that the amount of sparge water you should use is dictated by the size of your kettle? That doesn’t make sense to me.[/quote]
The volume you want in the kettle, i.e. the amount of wort you want to collect.
[quote=“mvsawyer”][quote=“Chris-P”]Are you saying that the amount of sparge water you should use is dictated by the size of your kettle? That doesn’t make sense to me.[/quote]The volume you want in the kettle, i.e. the amount of wort you want to collect.[/quote]Precisely.
