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Hey all,

Who here fly sparges? I did for over 6 years in a bucket with a false bottom, and this summer switched to batch sparging in a rectangular cooler with a SS braid. My efficiency dropped from 80% or so to less than 70, and it isn't saving me any time because the grain bed keeps getting stuck, which was part of the reason for batch sparging in the first place. The other reason is that a SS braid was easier to rig up than a copper manifold. Anyway, I'm thinking of going back to fly sparging. Does anybody here do that? If so, what's your setup like?

I don't fly sparge, but have you thought about trying the BIAB cooler method? You can use your existing cooler and a bag as your "manifold". There is no worry of a stuck sparge, vorlauf, etc., and you can still get good efficiency. I get ~75-78% for most batches without a sparge.

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Jimmy wrote:I don't fly sparge, but have you thought about trying the BIAB cooler method? You can use your existing cooler and a bag as your "manifold". There is no worry of a stuck sparge, vorlauf, etc., and you can still get good efficiency. I get ~75-78% for most batches without a sparge.

I've thought of that, but I make 12 gallon batches, in a 12 gallon cooler. That's enough room for fly or batch sparging, but I can't BIAB in it.

If you're using the cooler to batch sparge you can follow the same process but with the bag instead of the braid. Eliminates the stuck sparge.

I fly sparge now with my new rig. I get excellent efficiency now with this method as before I was getting 75-80%.

What's your setup like?