Efficiency bad

[JWR_12]

So I'm getting into mashing and I notice that my efficiency is not good. I'm guesstimating I'm getting like 55%, where I'd like to get somewhere in the 65%-70% range. Or am I dreaming?

Mashing in a nice pot surrounded by a custom made cozy for warmth. I go in at the right temperature. I'm guessing I may be failing in sparging. But any common efficiency robbers I should be looking out for?

Last brew out I thought I'd hit 1.048 and ended up with 1.040, for example.

Thank you!

John

 

[Sandy Feet]

I don't sparge, but water volume, PH, grain clumping, the way the grain is milled just to name a few. I'm BIAB, so I try to squeeze the shit out of the bag to get more sugar out. Even with BIAB, I can get 60 or 62. I have issues with adjuncts: Flaked corn, flaked oats, etc.

 

[J A]

Be sure you're calculating from the right volumes....the calculator can work from pre-boil or post-boil gravity, depending on which boxes are checked. The volumes specified in your system profile make a big difference, as well.
Make your recipe sharable and post a link. I'll be possible to try to find discrepancies in your settings. That's where the problem is in a lot of cases.

 

[BarbarianBrewer]

The most common cause for low efficiency is grain crush size. If you have control over it, try crushing a little finer. If you BIAB, then you can crush pretty fine. But you'll probably have more dough balls to break up. I mash in a picnic cooler and batch sparge. My mill gap set at 0.040" (1.016 mm) which is pretty standard and my Brewhouse efficiency is about 70.

This page has a good explanations of brewing efficiencies. It also has an excellent graphic to visualize them.

 

[Bryozoans]

I struggled with this as well (BIAB). I got some great advice from this thread and was able to improve my efficiency a lot: https://www.brewersfriend.com/forum/threads/og-way-off.17695/

 

[Zambi]

Yep
Mashing time
Crush
Sparging
All make a difference

 

[J A]

So I'm getting into mashing and I notice that my efficiency is not good. I'm guesstimating I'm getting like 55%, where I'd like to get somewhere in the 65%-70% range. Or am I dreaming?

Mashing in a nice pot surrounded by a custom made cozy for warmth. I go in at the right temperature. I'm guessing I may be failing in sparging. But any common efficiency robbers I should be looking out for?

Last brew out I thought I'd hit 1.048 and ended up with 1.040, for example.

Thank you!

John

I'm curious why you're "guesstimating". There's a mash efficiency calculator and the recipe builder computes the gravity based on the number you put in. How are you arriving at your 55% number? Mash efficiency of 80% or higher is pretty common and if you're not hitting 70-75%, something's not right.

Post your recipe and before you worry about contributing factors, figure out what your numbers actually are.

 

[Dave Y]

Even if you are not using BIAB/brew in a bag, have a look at https://www.brewersfriend.com/forum/threads/all-in-one-brewhouse-help-thread.17832/post-212432

Can you elaborate on your equipment?
How about your process?
- are you crushing the grains yourself or buying crushed?
- Old school setup or all in one / brew in a bag?
- Are you recirculating during the Mash?
- are you using a refractometer to check gravity during the mash and post sparge?
- Are you mashing 60 minutes or mashing until you hit your numbers?

We have all had these challenges. A typical all in one system doing a no sparge mash can get about 60-65%, lower if you aren’t on top of it or are still new at it. If you sparge, even a little, you can increase the efficiency to high 60’s, maybe low 70’s on average to medium beers. I found it a challenge to do anything bigger than 1.070 on all grain in the 10.5 gallon Anvil. On the 18 gallon, doing a 6 gallon brew, I’ve gotten 1.080 with the same process and I know there’s room there.

 

[Donoroto]

So I'm getting into mashing and I notice that my efficiency is not good. I'm guesstimating I'm getting like 55%, where I'd like to get somewhere in the 65%-70% range. Or am I dreaming?

Mashing in a nice pot surrounded by a custom made cozy for warmth. I go in at the right temperature. I'm guessing I may be failing in sparging. But any common efficiency robbers I should be looking out for?

Last brew out I thought I'd hit 1.048 and ended up with 1.040, for example.

Thank you!

John

If you are measuring the gravity, after your sparge, you’re not really measuring your efficiency in the way that you think you are. You want to measure gravity after mash and pre-sparge.

Plus, the post above covers it pretty well.

 

[west1m]

I don't think I have ever measured sg before sparge, that would push my efficiency through the roof!

 

[BarbarianBrewer]

I don't think I have ever measured sg before sparge, that would push my efficiency through the roof!

The BF session log calculates sugar conversion efficiency on pre-sparge measurements. Maybe your efficiency really is through the roof!

My main confusion on efficiencies on on Brewhouse Efficiency. The calculator wants to know the fermentor volume after transfer. My issue is that if I transfer everything in the kettle, wort, trub and all, I will have a higher volume than if I just transfer wort and a minimal amount of trub. On my last batch my brewhouse efficiency is either 79% or ~69%. Should I be guesstimating how much trub was transferred to the fermenter and subtracting that off the fermentor volume?

 

[Donoroto]

The BF session log calculates sugar conversion efficiency on pre-sparge measurements. Maybe your efficiency really is through the roof!
View attachment 31783

My main confusion on efficiencies on on Brewhouse Efficiency. The calculator wants to know the fermentor volume after transfer. My issue is that if I transfer everything in the kettle, wort, trub and all, I will have a higher volume than if I just transfer wort and a minimal amount of trub. On my last batch my brewhouse efficiency is either 79% or ~69%. Should I be guesstimating how much trub was transferred to the fermenter and subtracting that off the fermentor volume?

If your actual practice is to leave one or 2 quarts behind with the trub, then just call that kettle losses or something like that. It will assume you don’t transfer those 2 quarts and calculate accordingly.

At least I think that’s what happens.

 

[BarbarianBrewer]

If your actual practice is to leave one or 2 quarts behind with the trub, then just call that kettle losses or something like that. It will assume you don’t transfer those 2 quarts and calculate accordingly.

At least I think that’s what happens.

The problem is that I am consistently inconsistent when it comes to how much trub I transfer into the fermentor. But my real question is what is the calculator expecting; with trub or without? I usually hit 73% brewhouse efficiency...or do I?

 

[Donoroto]

The problem is that I am consistently inconsistent when it comes to how much trub I transfer into the fermentor. But my real question is what is the calculator expecting; with trub or without? I usually hit 73% brewhouse efficiency...or do I?

Pick a value and go with it. I use 2 quarts. Close enough.

That being said, I don’t fret my efficiency. It’s usually close.

 

[Craigerrr]

Hey @JWR_12 since you made this post you have had a fair amount of feedback.
As others have suggested, give us more details on your equipment/methods, and post your recipe as well so we can have a closer look.
Cheers!