Jesse Seymour
Member
Well I finally did my first all-grain brew last Friday after spending weeks studying about it. I converted a 5 gallon Rubbermaid cooler into a mash/lauter tun and planned my first brew for about 11 pounds of grain.
The mash went fine - I pre-heated with 170 degree water and just did a single step infusion at 155 degrees for 60 minutes and 3.5 gallons of water. I then drained the wort and re-circulated it to remove the grain husks. I managed to collect two gallons of wort there and then filled the tun to the top with 170 degree water.
I stirred the grains and let stand for ten minutes before draining this water off. After I finished this drain I had about five gallons of wort and I wanted to get 7 gallons.
Reason for this is that I have to boil with two four gallon pots. I did a test the night before by boiling three gallons of water for an hour and found that I lost a gallon per hour. In my head that works out to 2.5 gallons per pot post boil so 3.5 gallons per pot pre-boil or 7 gallons total.
I then did the same thing again (added hot water, stirred and let stand, re-circulated and drained) and managed to collect 7 gallons this way.
I punched all my numbers in (I took a hydrometer reading from one kettle and used that to calculate my efficiency) and found that I was only 61% efficient. My gravity was also two points higher than what I wanted (1.062 as opposed to 1.060).
Are you still with me? Good... I figured I would lose some people after this long rant. My first question is about how I can batch sparge better to raise my efficiency or should I switch to fly sparging to get 75% efficiency?
My second question is concerning the gravity being higher than expected - is that because of the efficiency being low? I am making a Pale Ale and Pro Mash tells me that 1.060 is the highest gravity for that style of beer according to BJCP.
All-grain is fun but boy is it confusing when you are trying to self-educate...
The mash went fine - I pre-heated with 170 degree water and just did a single step infusion at 155 degrees for 60 minutes and 3.5 gallons of water. I then drained the wort and re-circulated it to remove the grain husks. I managed to collect two gallons of wort there and then filled the tun to the top with 170 degree water.
I stirred the grains and let stand for ten minutes before draining this water off. After I finished this drain I had about five gallons of wort and I wanted to get 7 gallons.
Reason for this is that I have to boil with two four gallon pots. I did a test the night before by boiling three gallons of water for an hour and found that I lost a gallon per hour. In my head that works out to 2.5 gallons per pot post boil so 3.5 gallons per pot pre-boil or 7 gallons total.
I then did the same thing again (added hot water, stirred and let stand, re-circulated and drained) and managed to collect 7 gallons this way.
I punched all my numbers in (I took a hydrometer reading from one kettle and used that to calculate my efficiency) and found that I was only 61% efficient. My gravity was also two points higher than what I wanted (1.062 as opposed to 1.060).
Are you still with me? Good... I figured I would lose some people after this long rant. My first question is about how I can batch sparge better to raise my efficiency or should I switch to fly sparging to get 75% efficiency?
My second question is concerning the gravity being higher than expected - is that because of the efficiency being low? I am making a Pale Ale and Pro Mash tells me that 1.060 is the highest gravity for that style of beer according to BJCP.
All-grain is fun but boy is it confusing when you are trying to self-educate...