Efficiency or highest efficiency low efficiency

ChuckCollins · 08-31-2011, 05:26 AM

best efficiency vs highest efficiency vs low efficiency why is this so important?
if I am making good beer at the end that I like and enjoy

**diS** · 08-31-2011, 06:18 AM

Ditto.
It is more important to have constant process than trying to hit high efficiency. If you know that you get 60%, 65%, 70% or what ever efficiency and adjust grain bill accordingly to that you"ll be able to brew the beer you want (and hit desired OG, volumes etc).

IMO, the only thing that differs "low" and "high" efficiency is grain bill quantity, if you don't mind spending some extra bucks on grain then you shouldn't worry about it at all.
Besides that, as you said, brewing is fun and its always nice to try to get maximum of our equipment and process but as long we get constant results there is no need to have headache about efficiency.

ChuckCollins · 08-31-2011, 02:10 PM

Well my goal is to brew good beer and have fun doing it and drinking it. and constanly
inprove as I brew batch after batch and plus thru this site.

Gilbey · 08-31-2011, 02:19 PM

Yep, breweing good beer that YOU like is priority #1.

When I went AG I was worried about maximum efficiency. After 50 or 60 AG batches I am only concerned with consistency of efficiency so I can hit my target OG numbers. FWIW I run about 72 to 75 percent, and I am perfectly happy with that. So I may need to use an extra pound or two of grain? In the big picture that's a dollar or two. Not a big deal.

And if you don't care about hitting numbers, then more power to you!

My $ .02.

Alan

ChuckCollins · 08-31-2011, 02:35 PM

Best $.02 tip I have ever read

jfr1111 · 08-31-2011, 02:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gilbey

Yep, breweing good beer that YOU like is priority #1.

When I went AG I was worried about maximum efficiency. After 50 or 60 AG batches I am only concerned with consistency of efficiency so I can hit my target OG numbers. FWIW I run about 72 to 75 percent, and I am perfectly happy with that. So I may need to use an extra pound or two of grain? In the big picture that's a dollar or two. Not a big deal.

And if you don't care about hitting numbers, then more power to you!

My $ .02.

Alan

Consistency is key. I too, when I started AG, was worried that my efficiency schlong was way too small. I saw all those big numbers and strived to get them... Now, I KNOW that it is small (around 60-65%) and don't care about it because I know how to compensate for it

Gilbey · 08-31-2011, 03:07 PM

LOL - I had efficiency envy in the begining too!!

Now I am perfectly content

.

Alan

ChuckCollins · 08-31-2011, 04:33 PM

Love it!!!

phenry · 08-31-2011, 04:38 PM

I too think efficiency consistency is more important than getting high efficiency sometimes but being all over the ballpark with your values other times. Say you plan on getting 65% for an IPA, but end up hitting 88%. Congrats, your IPA just got maltier, not great news if you were looking for a straight hop bomb. It could turn out great, but what if you wanted to repeat that recipe that you brewed a month ago?

While I still have the "hey, it's just beer" mentality, I do like having some extent of control over my process.

**pm5k00** · 08-31-2011, 05:09 PM

I agree with everyone that consistency is important, however I would be lieing if I said I was content with a low percentage. When I started is was hitting about 70, but with a few changes to my process and a tweak to my mash tun I'm proud to say I hit 78-80% efficiency everytime. If your content with a lower number then great, but constantly hitting a 60 something percentage means there's room for improvement somewhere.