how do I calculate my effeciency

iasquith · 02-19-2008, 02:23 PM

I will be doing my second all grain soon and I was wanting to know how to caculate the effeciency of the starch conversion . thanks

**Bobby_M** · 02-19-2008, 02:48 PM

http://www.homebrewtalk.com/wiki/index.php/Efficiency

reshp1 · 02-19-2008, 05:28 PM

You can get product sheets for most of the grains online from the maltster. Typically, they will give a % Extract Fine Grind Dry Basis (FGDB). If you take this number and multiply it by 46, you'll approximately the points per gallon per pound figure the wiki refers to.

For example: Briess 2-row
http://www.brew-winemaking.com/ProductPDF/3990.pdf

Extract FG = 80.5%

So a pound of this grain mashed to get 1 gallon of runoff will yield a gravity of 46*80.5%= 37 pts or 1.037

This guide explains a lot of the other parameters you normally see in a malt analysis sheet

**Orfy** · 02-19-2008, 05:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bobby_M

http://www.homebrewtalk.com/wiki/index.php/Efficiency

+1..................

jdoiv · 02-19-2008, 06:02 PM

Easiest way is to use brewing software.

**Bobby_M** · 02-19-2008, 06:11 PM

I agree that software makes it easier but I would expect any self respecing all grain brewer would be able to crunch the numbers on paper if necessary.

jdoiv · 02-19-2008, 06:46 PM

I respect myself and don't think I could go work my efficiency numbers by formula without looking it up. And why would I do something the hard way when software makes it so easy.

Boerderij_Kabouter · 02-19-2008, 07:02 PM

Here is Palmer's take on it.

http://www.howtobrew.com/section2/chapter12-4.html

read through 4 pages and it should give you the basics.

**Bobby_M** · 02-19-2008, 07:03 PM

You can do it anyway you want but I think there's something fundamentally rewarding about understanding the science behind any particular part of this hobby. I think it's similar to brewing all grain and just accepting that a higher mash temp will result in a less fermentable wort. Has anyone just rolled with that without looking up why this happens?

If a calculator can give any kid the answer to (9 * 9 = 81), should they not learn multiplication tables in 4th grade?

maltMonkey · 02-20-2008, 01:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bobby_M

You can do it anyway you want but I think there's something fundamentally rewarding about understanding the science behind any particular part of this hobby. I think it's similar to brewing all grain and just accepting that a higher mash temp will result in a less fermentable wort. Has anyone just rolled with that without looking up why this happens?

If a calculator can give any kid the answer to (9 * 9 = 81), should they not learn multiplication tables in 4th grade?

I'm still an AG noob, but I haven't quite gotten to the point where I've wanted to hammer that out yet. I think it's cool to be able to do it yourself, but I think a lot of us aren't to that point yet or just don't care about all the underlying math.

Don't get me wrong--I LOVE math. Algebra, trig, calculus, whatever. I also love software engineering, writing web-based programs, etc.....so if I or someone else writes a program that can do the figuring for you (I do like me some BeerSmith) I don't see the problem.

Teaching kids math? That IS important because math has such a daily effect on our lives--it's everywhere. Learning formulas for calculating the efficiency for the (ever changing) beer-making ingredients you happen to have on hand? Not quite as many daily or higher level uses for that....

I do see how doing it by hand would be rewarding, however