What kind of efficiency do you average?

**the_bird** · 05-21-2007, 11:47 AM

Just out of curiosity - based on your current setup and processes, what kind of efficiency do you average? What do you use as an assumption when formulating a recipe?

Just curious what other people average, and to get some input from others on what made the biggest improvement to their numbers.

**Yooper** · 05-21-2007, 12:02 PM

I've averaged 75-78% until my last batch, which was 58%! That whole episode was screwed up, so thinking that was an aberration. When I plan my brew, I've been planning on 75% efficiency and it's worked so far. I'm pretty happy with it, really.

The Pol · 05-21-2007, 12:21 PM

I know I get a good crush from my LHBS... I also fly sparge, hour runoffs... maybe that all helps. I average 79%

Pol

**ajf** · 05-21-2007, 12:26 PM

I use Promash for formulating recipes, and have 85% plugged in as the default efficiency.

-a.

**RichBrewer** · 05-21-2007, 12:59 PM

I've always used 75% to calculate recipes. My efficiency varies from 70 to 85 percent mostly because I haven't been consistent with the volume of wort that ends up in the fermenter.

**Catfish** · 05-21-2007, 01:02 PM

Crush your grains. Crush until you are scared.

Cheesefood · 05-21-2007, 01:02 PM

My eff sucks and I'm determined to correct it. I came real close to buying a fly sparge set up. Still think I might.

**the_bird** · 05-21-2007, 01:11 PM

For clarification, I'm referring here to a typical, 1050-1060 OG batch. Everyday brews.

What changes to their processes have people done to improve their efficiency? I've got a malt mill that's been 90% completed for two months, I'm hoping to improve my crush (pretty sure the HBS's crush isn't fine enough). I've been using the PH 5.2 buffer, although I'm not sure how much of an impact it has had on recent batches. If I ever get the ability to more-precisely measure PH, I'll prolly try fly sparging (I'm concerned about doing that now because of my inability to easily check PH).

What else am I not thinking about? I've only been getting ~65% lately, if I can get that up to 75%, I'll be happy.

And yes, I know I can just add more base malt - but there's pride at stake

KopyKat · 05-21-2007, 01:12 PM

I buy crushed grains from my LHBS and batch sparge. I consistantly get 72% and am happy with that. I will eventually buy a grain crusher but primarily so that I can buy bulk grains. Only then will I crush finer for better efficency.

**ajf** · 05-21-2007, 02:17 PM

I consistently get 5% more efficiency from fly sparging than batch (85% vs 80%), using a round cooler, false bottom, and sparge arm. (I don't use the sparge arm when batch sparging.)
For fly sparging, a slow sparge (about 90 minutes) is much more efficient than a faster sparge.
The one thing I did that improved my efficiency by about 10% was a mash out with 1g near boiling water that simultaneously reduced the mash viscosity, and raised the mash temp to 170. Prior to that, my sparge temp was only about 160. Of course, if you're batch sparging, heating the initial batch of sparge water to a higher temperature would have the same effect.
I don't know if it was the higher temperature, the reduced viscosity, or both that made the difference, but it worked.

-a.