I brewed a Oatmeal Cream Stout today. I planned to hit about 1.054 OG. I was kegging and bottling during the sparge, so I turned my valves down really low so that I could get the kegging and bottling done. I usually sparge for 45 minutes to an hour. Today's sparge went for about 1.5 hours.
Just took a gravity reading in the kettle - 1.067
That puts me at about 74% efficiency (according to Promash) when I am usually at 65 %. Thankfully, I hopped on the high side for that style (about 51 IBUS), but I hope that this beer is not too out of balance. I wanted a good session brew, but this one is going to be rather strong.
Could my longer sparge have accounted for my efficiency increase? I did everything else the same. If this is the case, I am going to start slowing down my sparge considerable.
BTW, here is the recipe I used today:
Oatmeal Cream Stout
9 lbs. 2-Row
.50 lbs. Crystal 40L
.50 lbs. Crystal 60L
.50 lbs Chocolate Malt
.25 lbs. Crystal 120L
6 oz. Oatmeal
4 oz. Black Patent
4 oz. Roast Non-Malted Barley
3 oz. Dextrine Malt
1 lb. Lactose (added with 15 min. remaining in boil)
.50 oz. Columbus (14%) (60)
1 oz. Kent Golding (4.2%) (60)
1 oz. Fuggles (4.0%) (30)
Mash - 155
Yeast - Nottingham
Just took a gravity reading in the kettle - 1.067
That puts me at about 74% efficiency (according to Promash) when I am usually at 65 %. Thankfully, I hopped on the high side for that style (about 51 IBUS), but I hope that this beer is not too out of balance. I wanted a good session brew, but this one is going to be rather strong.
Could my longer sparge have accounted for my efficiency increase? I did everything else the same. If this is the case, I am going to start slowing down my sparge considerable.
BTW, here is the recipe I used today:
Oatmeal Cream Stout
9 lbs. 2-Row
.50 lbs. Crystal 40L
.50 lbs. Crystal 60L
.50 lbs Chocolate Malt
.25 lbs. Crystal 120L
6 oz. Oatmeal
4 oz. Black Patent
4 oz. Roast Non-Malted Barley
3 oz. Dextrine Malt
1 lb. Lactose (added with 15 min. remaining in boil)
.50 oz. Columbus (14%) (60)
1 oz. Kent Golding (4.2%) (60)
1 oz. Fuggles (4.0%) (30)
Mash - 155
Yeast - Nottingham