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EndlessWinter77 · 07-14-2011, 04:00 AM

Did my first all grain today as follows. The eff. was low got any advice?

Batch: 10 gal
Target OG: 1.060
Actual OG: 1.055
Grain: 100% Gambrinus Pils 20lb
Lab Eff: 82% or 37.7 ppg
Typical Eff @ (85%): 32ppg (85% from Palmer)
Actual Eff: 26ppg or 81% of typ, or 69% Lab. (Also calcd 69% on brewhouse eff calculator.
Mash tun: rect. 55qt cooler, 1/2" copper manifold, grain bed approx 8" depth
Water: Portland Tap- not hard. Mash pH investigated and looks good for lighter grain bills according to Palmer nomograph.

Grain purchased and double ground at highly respectable LHBS

I followed Palmers mash/lauter single infusion. Maintained 154-151 F mash. Maintained less than or equal to 1 qt/min lauter (continuous sparge).

Sparge water initially 175 but dropped to 160 halfway through (maintained 160 thereafter) Could this have been the cause? This is the only inconsistency i can think of.

All in all I am very happy with my first all grain, but I would like to try to raise the efficiency to standard. Any advice would be rad!

Thank You

emetcalf · 07-14-2011, 06:29 AM

69% is good for a first try. Nice job.

The sparge water temp dropping might have a very small effect, but is not your biggest problem. You might have had some channeling in the grainbed, but I don't fly-sparge so I can't really help you out there. How much did you mix the grain? Dry spots will kill your efficiency.

Also, I live in the Portland area too but I have only ever bought grain from Brew Brothers out in Hillsboro. I highly recommend them if they aren't too far out of the way for you (and if that's not where you are already going). Their prices are great, hops are half the price of FH Steinbarts and Above the Rest, and I think grain is cheaper too.

OLDBREW · 07-14-2011, 12:02 PM

try stirring the bed half way through the rest or extend the rest a bit. the drop in sparge temperature will usually deduct around 2-3 points.

My thought would be; how efficient is your manifold in that rectangular cooler? The cooler shape itself will drop your efficiency when fly sparging, unless your manifold is perfectly constructed for proper fluid dynamics.

other then that... if you can actually extract 30 points or more per pound per gallon, I wouldn't worry about it too much.

EndlessWinter77 · 07-14-2011, 04:25 PM

cool thanks guys. The manifold should be super efficient as I designed it for good fluid dyndamics. I also stirred three times during the rest.

ill try stirring better prior to the rest, and maybe a longer rest as well... and of course keeping the sparge temp up.

already can't wait for the next batch!

impur · 07-14-2011, 05:49 PM

My first 5 or so AG batches i added an extra pound of the base grain to help my efficiency while i got the hang of brewing and got more familiar with my equipment. Was consistantly in the 80% range. Now that i've stopped that and go with the recipe, i'm down in the low 70s with an occasional 80 in there.

Once you've gotten familiar with your equipment and the process your efficiency will raise IME.

Catt22 · 07-14-2011, 06:35 PM

Looks to me like your efficiency was more like 73%

20 lbs @ 37.7 = 754 gravity units
754/10 gal = 75.5 points max theoretical

Your reported OG was 1.055 or 55 points

55/75.5 = 73% which really isn't all that bad IMO.

My advice would be to stir well and frequently as the others have mentioned, especially just prior to beginning the sparge. Gently vorlaugh a gallon or two until the wort is running clear then begin your slow sparge. Slow sparging helps a lot. I'm convinced that channeling is the most likely cause of low efficiency. The grist is obviously very important, but sounds like you have confidence that it was milled correctly.