Beer Mash and Sparge Water Calculator
Are you new to all-grain brewing? Are you a seasoned pro? Do you use a traditional mash tun, batch sparging setup, or full Brew-in-a-Bag? If you answered yes to any of these (we're not picky), then we've got you covered. Calculating your mash and sparge water volumes doesn’t have to be guesswork. Well, okay, if you've poured back a few Imperial IPAs it might be. And that's why we're here to help! This all-in-one calculator helps you dial in your mash water volume, strike temperature, sparge water needs, and total brewing water—based on your specific setup and recipe. Just enter your grain bill, batch size, and a few key details, and let the math handle itself. Ideal for homebrewers of all experience levels, it’s your shortcut to better brews, smoother brew days, and more beer!
Step 1: Select Your Brewing Setup
Step 2: Select Unit System
Step 3: Enter Your Recipe Details
Results (Traditional/Batch Sparging)
| Measurement | Imperial | Metric |
|---|---|---|
| Mash Water Volume | ||
| Sparge Water Volume | ||
| Boil-Off Loss | ||
| Total Water Needed | ||
| Strike Water Temperature |
Understanding the Results
-
For Traditional/Batch Sparging:
- Mash Water Volume: The water used in the mash based on your target mash thickness.
- Sparge Water Volume: The additional water used during sparging to achieve your preboil volume.
- Boil-Off Loss: The water lost during the boil, based on your boil off rate and boil time.
- Total Water Needed: The sum of mash water and sparge water.
- Strike Water Temperature: The temperature required to bring the mash to your target temperature.
-
For Brew-in-a-Bag (BIAB):
- Total Water Needed: The total water used, which is the sum of the water in the mash plus any topping off water needed.
- Strike Water Temperature: The temperature required for the strike water.
- Total Mash Volume: The initial water added to the grains in the mash (adjusted to be higher for BIAB).
- Preboil Wort: The wort volume after mashing and topping off (Total Mash Volume minus grain absorption plus topping off water).
- Postboil Wort: The final wort volume after accounting for boil-off losses.
Calculation Assumptions
- Preheated Mash Tun: We assume the mash tun (or brewing vessel) is preheated so that its temperature does not significantly affect the mash temperature.
- Single-Infusion Mash: For Traditional/Batch methods, we assume a single infusion mash is used (no step mash).
- Full Water Volume for BIAB: For BIAB, all water is assumed to be added during the mash (with topping off as needed) and the grain occupies a fixed volume (0.08 gal/lb or approximately 0.667 L/kg) when compressed in the bag.