I've just moved from extract to partial mash. I have a 6.6 gallon (25L) cooler mash tun and a 8 gallon (30L) boil pot.
In the last recipe I brewed, I used 5.5lbs (2.5kg) of grain - which was 55% of total grain/DME. Beersmith told me to add 7L (1.8 gallons) of strike water for the mash.
For the sparge, beersmith told me to do it in two steps. First add 9.5L (2.5 gallons) then drain, then add an additional 14.5L (3.8 gallons) of sparge water. This is all fine and I hit my pre-boil volume.
To save time, is there any reason I can't just do a 1 step sparge with as much water that will fit in the mash tun and then top up the kettle to get the pre-boil volume? How much water should I use?
I realise I'll lose a few points of efficiency but I'm happy to do that and save another 15-20 mins of time. Any ideas how much efficiency I'll lose?
In the last recipe I brewed, I used 5.5lbs (2.5kg) of grain - which was 55% of total grain/DME. Beersmith told me to add 7L (1.8 gallons) of strike water for the mash.
For the sparge, beersmith told me to do it in two steps. First add 9.5L (2.5 gallons) then drain, then add an additional 14.5L (3.8 gallons) of sparge water. This is all fine and I hit my pre-boil volume.
To save time, is there any reason I can't just do a 1 step sparge with as much water that will fit in the mash tun and then top up the kettle to get the pre-boil volume? How much water should I use?
I realise I'll lose a few points of efficiency but I'm happy to do that and save another 15-20 mins of time. Any ideas how much efficiency I'll lose?