Efficiency

Sorry if this has been covered. I'm new to the forum and couldn't find it.

SOOO....I'm using Beersmith. I'm batch sparging for 60 minutes and doing a 10 minute mash out on a 5 gallon recipe.

After collecting both runnings in my boil kettle I came away with less than 5 gallons. Using my refractometer if I measure my approximate 4 gallons I got 18 brix. So is my efficiency based on what I got or is it based on bringing the volume up to 5 gallons. I brought my boil volume up to 7.3 gallons which gets me to approx 5 gallons after 60 mins. Is my efficiency based on the OG at 4, 5 or 7.3 gallons?

A lil' help!

Thanks!!!

c130drvr said:

Sorry if this has been covered. I'm new to the forum and couldn't find it.

SOOO....I'm using Beersmith. I'm batch sparging for 60 minutes and doing a 10 minute mash out on a 5 gallon recipe.

After collecting both runnings in my boil kettle I came away with less than 5 gallons. Using my refractometer if I measure my approximate 4 gallons I got 18 brix. So is my efficiency based on what I got or is it based on bringing the volume up to 5 gallons. I brought my boil volume up to 7.3 gallons which gets me to approx 5 gallons after 60 mins. Is my efficiency based on the OG at 4, 5 or 7.3 gallons?

A lil' help!

Thanks!!!

Click to expand...

Any of those. Efficiency is a measure of the extracted sugar, which won't change as you dilute. As long as you use a gravity that corresponds to the volume, you'll get the right answer.

Thank you!!! Understood!!!