Under the flimsy excuse that my birthday approaches, I thought it was about time I got some more brewing bling!
So SWMBO, after spending oodles at a jewellery party, couldn't say no when I informed her that I had ordered a copper sparge ring from Grain and Grape! I've always been irked about batch sparging and in order to squeeze more efficiency out of the mash, I thought fly sparging would be of use. The problem with those rotating sparge arms or the ones with the Fermentap aerator attached is the risk of oxidising the mash with all that splashing / trickling sparge water.
The copper sparge ring gets the sparge water into the mashtun, but with minimal turbulence - it sits on top of the grain bed and the holes are on top of the ring, ensuring that it evenly disperses the water, once it fills the ring and shouldn't push air into the mash water.
But that's not all!!
I'm also planning on using the same sparge ring to sit in the bottom of the fermenter and aerate the wort with the aquarium pump hooked up with some tubing, as I prepare to pitch the yeast!
Try doing that with a Phil's sparge arm!
If I remember, I'll take some pics of my preciousssss for all to see....
Cheers,
TL
