GF sparger or standard boiler?

The Homebrew Forum

Help Support The Homebrew Forum:

This site may earn a commission from merchant affiliate links, including eBay, Amazon, and others.

Bashley

Well-Known Member
Joined
Jan 23, 2018
Messages
170
Reaction score
8
Hi guys

Very, very soon I'll be purchasing the Grainfather. Rather than invest the 80 odd quid for the GF sparger I thought it might be more prudent to invest the same in something that could be multi purpose. If I bought a standard 20L gas boiler with tap and thermometer would it do the same job? I ask because then if I ever have a problem with my GF at least I could do a few BIAB brew using the boiler. As for heating it up I guess either I could use the grainfather to boil the water first. But maybe during the brewing process it would cool down too much? I could always boil small amounts of water while the grainfather is mashing.
Anyway, any advice would be welcome!
 
I'm happy getting 75%+ mash efficiency with a cold water sparge, if that's enough for you then you don't need a heater.

If you want to keep preheated water warm just store it in an insulated cool box.


aamcle
 
I'm happy getting 75%+ mash efficiency with a cold water sparge, if that's enough for you then you don't need a heater.

If you want to keep preheated water warm just store it in an insulated cool box.


aamcle
Thanks aamcle, then at least I can use the cooler for other things. Are all insulated coolers able to take boiling water?
 
Yes, but boiling water might remain too warm for the sparge if you bear in mind that over a 90 minute mash most budget cold boxes will maintain a mash temp within 5c without any extra insulation upgradeing. so a little testing in advance may be wise ;)

tho fwiw my old budget cold box tun was preheated with a couple of off the boil kitchen kettle fulls of off the boil water..

for the g/f sparge heater option you could even retire a suitable (PP) fermentor and add a budget kettle element.

While many report good results (BHE) with a cold water sparge hot water straight from the hot water tap could be used too..

Perhaps consider how your going to deliver the sparge volume to the top of the g/f 'tower', a lil brown solar pump or silimar (heat and food safe) may be more useful than a heater so you can avoid manhandling a large volume of scolding temp water to the height needed to sparge the g/f system.
 
Yes, but boiling water might remain too warm for the sparge if you bear in mind that over a 90 minute mash most budget cold boxes will maintain a mash temp within 5c without any extra insulation upgradeing. so a little testing in advance may be wise ;)

tho fwiw my old budget cold box tun was preheated with a couple of off the boil kitchen kettle fulls of off the boil water..

for the g/f sparge heater option you could even retire a suitable (PP) fermentor and add a budget kettle element.

While many report good results (BHE) with a cold water sparge hot water straight from the hot water tap could be used too..

Perhaps consider how your going to deliver the sparge volume to the top of the g/f 'tower', a lil brown solar pump or silimar (heat and food safe) may be more useful than a heater so you can avoid manhandling a large volume of scolding temp water to the height needed to sparge the g/f system.
I guess I was just thinking I'd fill up a glass jug several times.
 
If you want to keep preheated water warm just store it in an insulated cool box.

Interesting idea - but how do you heat 15l of sparge water? Do you just boil the kettle 5 times and top up with cold?
 
Interesting idea - but how do you heat 15l of sparge water? Do you just boil the kettle 5 times and top up with cold?
Surely it would work with just a a couple of kettle boils and a couple of big pans on the stove. Would be half the price of the GF sparger and you can use it for family trips in the summer.
 
Surely it would work with just a a couple of kettle boils and a couple of big pans on the stove. Would be half the price of the GF sparger and you can use it for family trips in the summer.

Definitely a benefit in the cool box having other uses but might be a bit of a faff to have a couple of pans going, rather than just having a single water heater. Dunno, just thinking out loud really.
 
Yeah, I know what you mean. I've also heard that a fish tank pump can be used to pump from wherever to the grainfather. No idea which one would be suitable though.
 
Interesting idea - but how do you heat 15l of sparge water? Do you just boil the kettle 5 times and top up with cold?
Only done 2 brews with my Grainfather so far, but this is what I have done. Put a big pot of water on the hob, corrected temperature using kettle or cold water, then sparge with a jug.

I have been looking out for a second hand tea urn, to reduce the faff.

Looking forward to getting another brew done, once my Brewtility room is fitted out.
 
Only done 2 brews with my Grainfather so far, but this is what I have done. Put a big pot of water on the hob, corrected temperature using kettle or cold water, then sparge with a jug./ QUOTE]

This is exactly what I did for my first dozen brews, works fine. Recently bought a sparger I can pump the water from, mostly so that I can take the brewery out of the kitchen and into the garage to satisfy SWMBO!
 

Latest posts

Back
Top