My latest brew (my 3rd brew ever) only yielded 53% (brewers friend) efficiency which I feel is low considering my brewing system. When I say low I'm referring to the OG. OG for the lastest brew was .050, at 65% I'd be hitting .061.
I have 3 keg system. Mashtun has a pico false bottom (homebrewing.org) I lowered it so there is now 5 liters below the FB (instead of 9.5). I have a march pump for circulating. Pic of FB here https://www.homebrewtalk.com/photo/lowered-false-bottom-62864.html
Here is my process for a 23L batch. Can anyone see anything glaringly wrong with what I'm doing?
1. Boil 10L in mashtun to sterilize and heat it up a bit (maybe boiling some of the sparge water is a bad idea?)
2. Add 12L more of cold water to mashtun
3. Heat the 22L in mashtun to 72celcius (Circulate with pump till temp is stable)
4. Add the grains (6.8kg for the last brew) and stir for 5-10 mins till I can't see any more clumps. I also have the pump running on low during this step.
5. Stop stirring / switch pump off, put lid on and wait for 60mins. (temp is now 66-67)
6. After 60 mins switch on the pump on low for 3-5 mins to in theory clarify the wort.
7. Begin fly sparge (sparge water heated to 67). Sparge water is introduced to top of mash onto a small round plate (to avoid blasting a hole in the grain bed). The wort is pumped into the boiler at about the same flow as sparge water (medium to slow speed - not sure how fast or slow I should be going?) Pic of sparge arm here https://www.homebrewtalk.com/photo/sparge-arm-62865.html
8. Stop lautering when the boiller has 28.5 litres in it - I know I should test the wort gravity to decide when to stop lautering but thats a pain in the arse to do.
BTW attenuation is good, 82% for the last brew. Fermentation occurs in a temp controlled fridge with heat pad.
Any thoughts will be appreciated. Thanks!
I have 3 keg system. Mashtun has a pico false bottom (homebrewing.org) I lowered it so there is now 5 liters below the FB (instead of 9.5). I have a march pump for circulating. Pic of FB here https://www.homebrewtalk.com/photo/lowered-false-bottom-62864.html
Here is my process for a 23L batch. Can anyone see anything glaringly wrong with what I'm doing?
1. Boil 10L in mashtun to sterilize and heat it up a bit (maybe boiling some of the sparge water is a bad idea?)
2. Add 12L more of cold water to mashtun
3. Heat the 22L in mashtun to 72celcius (Circulate with pump till temp is stable)
4. Add the grains (6.8kg for the last brew) and stir for 5-10 mins till I can't see any more clumps. I also have the pump running on low during this step.
5. Stop stirring / switch pump off, put lid on and wait for 60mins. (temp is now 66-67)
6. After 60 mins switch on the pump on low for 3-5 mins to in theory clarify the wort.
7. Begin fly sparge (sparge water heated to 67). Sparge water is introduced to top of mash onto a small round plate (to avoid blasting a hole in the grain bed). The wort is pumped into the boiler at about the same flow as sparge water (medium to slow speed - not sure how fast or slow I should be going?) Pic of sparge arm here https://www.homebrewtalk.com/photo/sparge-arm-62865.html
8. Stop lautering when the boiller has 28.5 litres in it - I know I should test the wort gravity to decide when to stop lautering but thats a pain in the arse to do.
BTW attenuation is good, 82% for the last brew. Fermentation occurs in a temp controlled fridge with heat pad.
Any thoughts will be appreciated. Thanks!