Cajun_McChicken
Well-Known Member
So I recently took about a 10 month hiatus from brewing during which time I made some improvements to my system by adding a chugger pump that I use to transfer water and wort, recirculate the mash, and whirlpool after boiling. Pretty much everything else is as it has always has been: 10g drink cooler for HTL with 1500w element controlled by my ranco temp controller, another 10g round cooler with a copper manifold and lock-line return tubing for the MLT and a 10g winco aluminum kettle.
So here's my issue: each of my first two mashes on my new pump system have come out to (according to beer smith) 124-6% efficiency. The mash I just finished was an American Amber franken-brew that I used 5lb of fresh 2-row for and the leftovers of every other specialty grain I had in the freezer (most over a year old).
Estimated pre-boil volume 7g
measured pre-boil volume 6.67g (pump mishap spilled some sparge water; I'm still learning to use it)
Estimated pre-boil gravity 1.041
Measured pre-boil gravity 1.064
I just checked my hydrometer and it seems to be working fine (1.000 in cool tap water)
Any ideas on what might cause this?
recipe printout below
View attachment Untitled.pdf
So here's my issue: each of my first two mashes on my new pump system have come out to (according to beer smith) 124-6% efficiency. The mash I just finished was an American Amber franken-brew that I used 5lb of fresh 2-row for and the leftovers of every other specialty grain I had in the freezer (most over a year old).
Estimated pre-boil volume 7g
measured pre-boil volume 6.67g (pump mishap spilled some sparge water; I'm still learning to use it)
Estimated pre-boil gravity 1.041
Measured pre-boil gravity 1.064
I just checked my hydrometer and it seems to be working fine (1.000 in cool tap water)
Any ideas on what might cause this?
recipe printout below
View attachment Untitled.pdf