Two Types of Efficiency

sonvolt · 12-18-2006, 04:22 PM

Efficiency can be calculated in one of two ways, as I see it. First, we should be able to determine how efficient our mash is in terms of extracting fermentables from the grain. Shouldn't we also be able to determine the efficiency of our overall process (isn't this referred to as Brewhouse efficiency?). I started thinking about this as I dumped the bottom of my kettle today. I brewed 6 gallons of beer, but I only put 5 of it into my fermenter.

Promash calculates my efficiency as 65% (I batch sparged today). Does this take into account the wasted stuff at the bottom of the kettle, or should I determine this as a 6 gal batch, which brings my efficiency to 78%.

Just curious.

**Baron von BeeGee** · 12-18-2006, 11:47 PM

I go with mash efficiency...that's really what I'm interested in and it's what most homebrewers are talking about so it gives us a good standard of comparison. Brewhouse efficiency is also interesting, but moreso in a commercial setting.

**Orfy** · 12-18-2006, 11:50 PM

I'm still trying to get my maths right on this.

I'm interested in what I get out of the mash tun. That's what you need to know to get an estimated OG the other stuff just effects the volume.

sonvolt · 12-18-2006, 11:52 PM

Which efficiency does Promash calculate?

**Baron von BeeGee** · 12-18-2006, 11:54 PM

Promash calculates mash efficiency, although it can probably be setup to figure brewhouse (I'd have to look). I'd be surprised if it wouldn't calculate brewhouse since it is considered a commercial package also.

It would have to factor in losses incurred while moving the wort from the kettle to fermenters and conditioning tanks, as well as bottling losses.

Kaiser · 12-19-2006, 01:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sonvolt

I started thinking about this as I dumped the bottom of my kettle today. I brewed 6 gallons of beer, but I only put 5 of it into my fermenter.

Don't dump that. Take a large funnel, line it with a paper towel and filter the trub. The wort can then be used for starters and priming. Since you may not do this in a sanitary fashion you need to boil it before using it.

Kai

**ajf** · 12-19-2006, 02:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sonvolt

Efficiency can be calculated in one of two ways, as I see it. First, we should be able to determine how efficient our mash is in terms of extracting fermentables from the grain. Shouldn't we also be able to determine the efficiency of our overall process (isn't this referred to as Brewhouse efficiency?). I started thinking about this as I dumped the bottom of my kettle today. I brewed 6 gallons of beer, but I only put 5 of it into my fermenter.

Promash calculates my efficiency as 65% (I batch sparged today). Does this take into account the wasted stuff at the bottom of the kettle, or should I determine this as a 6 gal batch, which brings my efficiency to 78%.

Just curious.

As I see things, calculating the efficiency of the mash is a waste of time as you could get good efficiency in the mash, but you could waste that efficiency with a poor sparge.
Calculating the efficiency of the combined mash and sparge is worth while, and Promash calculates this efficiency if you measure the gravity in the kettle.

Promash can also calculate the brewhouse efficiency if you don't enter any wort losses in the water needed calculator.

If you accurately enter the data in the water needed calculator, then you can use the efficiency calculator to determine your mash/sparge efficiency when measuring the gravity in the fermenter or the kettle. Both values should be the same.

-a.

zoebisch01 · 12-19-2006, 11:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kaiser

Don't dump that. Take a large funnel, line it with a paper towel and filter the trub. The wort can then be used for starters and priming. Since you may not do this in a sanitary fashion you need to boil it before using it.

Kai

Hey that's a great idea.

Willie3 · 12-19-2006, 01:47 PM

So do you take into account the gallon lost or not?

-WW

GABrewboy · 12-21-2006, 12:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ajf

As I see things, calculating the efficiency of the mash is a waste of time as you could get good efficiency in the mash, but you could waste that efficiency with a poor sparge.
Calculating the efficiency of the combined mash and sparge is worth while, and Promash calculates this efficiency if you measure the gravity in the kettle.
-a.

So maybe I have been messing my effc. reading up all along then. So if I am measuring my effic. reading by combining my mash & sparge in the kettle, then I would need to click the kettle reading in the Promash software? If so, then my effic. has just gone way up from what I originally thought it was. Or am I totally off here and just hoping this is the case?