This was the biggest beer I have ever brewed and I'm freaking out about the lower mash efficiency than my system typically produces. I mashed 23# of grain at 1.30 quarts per pound of grain (just like I always do). 19lbs of British Pale and the rest included chocolate, pale chocolate, special B, Black Barley and caramunich.
Mash temp: 154 for 60 minutes
I fly sparge with 168-169F water and always at a rate of about 1L per minute until I achieve a pre-boil volume of 8 gallons, boiling down to 6 gallons over a 60 minute period (total sparge time of 35-40 minutes). I keep about 1" of water on top of the grain to help get even distribution and rinsing of the grain.
My system typically comes in at about 72-74% but this time I calculated 64%. The SG I was shooting for was 1.095 and it came in at 1.086.
Any thoughts as to why these results are off from that of my systems typical performance? Am I just freaking out over nothing?
Thanks for any feedback you might have!
Mash temp: 154 for 60 minutes
I fly sparge with 168-169F water and always at a rate of about 1L per minute until I achieve a pre-boil volume of 8 gallons, boiling down to 6 gallons over a 60 minute period (total sparge time of 35-40 minutes). I keep about 1" of water on top of the grain to help get even distribution and rinsing of the grain.
My system typically comes in at about 72-74% but this time I calculated 64%. The SG I was shooting for was 1.095 and it came in at 1.086.
Any thoughts as to why these results are off from that of my systems typical performance? Am I just freaking out over nothing?
Thanks for any feedback you might have!