Is this grain crush ok?

Hey Guys,

I've periodically been running into efficiency issues, and while i have it almost under control, i'm still coming in 0.010 or so below where i should be for my pre-boil gravity, and in turn my starting gravity. There are only a few things left to try, but one thing i'm not sure of is my grain crush. I get my grain pre-milled, usually from either more beer or northern brewer.

Here are some pics of the american pale and cara-pils i used in my last batch. Beersmith said i should come out around 1.078, i came in at 1.063 SG.

Let me know if you guys see anything wrong with it, or if i should look elsewhere.

Thanks

I personally crush my grain far more than pictured above. I'm not afraid of a stuck sparge and haven't had one yet dispite the severe crush I inflict on my grain. I would recommend further crushing if you can. The crush is the single best way of improving your efficiency. I get about 85-90% using a good crush and about a 40 min. sparge time. Cheers!
mark
www.backyardbrewer.blogspot.com

That's an adequate looking crush though I like mine finer.

You said Beersmith predicted 1078 but you got 1063. Beer smith defaults to 75% eff I think. That means you hit about 58% assuming constant volume. That's pretty low but if you're hitting it consistently I wouldn't change anything. Just plan to buy a couple-three more lbs of grain per batch.

That crush may be reducing your eff a bit but I'd look elsewhere if you really want to pursue it.

I think that is not crushed nearly enough. Looks like lots of whole grains there.

Doesn't look crushed enough to me. I crush as .035" and never get stuck sparges with a copper manifold.

I would crush it more, stuck sparge be damned

Agree with the rest, tighten up your gap on the mill. It looks like a nice crush, but not nearly fine enough.

Is that even crushed? I'd say crush is definatly your issue.

Ideally there should be no uncrushed corns, although maximum intact husk to assist with wort separation, and not too much flour. Definately too coarse, mostly uncrushed in fact. Agree - must tighten the mill gap

Have a look at my crush
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UAE4Nd6T37k&feature=youtu.be

Very poor crush, next time tell them you want a fine crush or better yet get your own mill and do it yourself.

Well i had been on the fence whether i wanted to get my own mill or not, i think that seals the deal. Thanks for the input guys!

That doesn't look crushed hardly at all IMO. I set my barley crusher as tight as it will go, grain condition, and it is nothing but flour and whole smashed husks. I use plenty of rice hulls in every batch because I have had a few stuck sparges...

-Steve

mbird said:

I personally crush my grain far more than pictured above. I'm not afraid of a stuck sparge and haven't had one yet dispite the severe crush I inflict on my grain. I would recommend further crushing if you can. The crush is the single best way of improving your efficiency. I get about 85-90% using a good crush and about a 40 min. sparge time. Cheers!
mark
www.backyardbrewer.blogspot.com

Click to expand...

See https://www.homebrewtalk.com/f36/any-real-science-effect-crush-extract-yield-326573/

Do you think you get your increased yield from sparging efficiency or conversion? If sparging efficiency, how would a finer crush do that?

I think this is the 2nd time this week someone has complained about not hitting their mash efficiency with a crush from northern brewer.

Possibly the gap setting on their mill (one of their mills?) has slipped.

TimpanogosSlim said:

I think this is the 2nd time this week someone has complained about not hitting their mash efficiency with a crush from northern brewer.

Possibly the gap setting on their mill (one of their mills?) has slipped.

Click to expand...

This grain was from Morebeer, though i have gotten NB grain that looked like this as well (and not too long ago).