Gravity problem with 2nd batch

Second batch of all grain. Basic ale recipe from NB http://www.northernbrewer.com/brewing/recipe-kits/all-grain-kits/all-grain-ale-kits/chinook-ipa-all-grain-kit.html

OG should be 1.050. From my first all grain batch I expected being slightly over gravity but this was much more than expected.

I ended up at 1.060.

So, the pre-boil gravity was 1.053 (knew I had a problem right here). The NB kit calls for a 152 mash temp. I hit 154 at dough in and due to large cooler size I dropped to 151 at 40 minutes or so. I had a pot of boiling water and added a cup or two. Temp was 153 for remainder of mash.

So I do have some temp variation and losses during the mash. I simply can not see where the difference would be .010.

Any ideas on where this went wrong.

You didn't do anything wrong, you had good efficiency. If you really need it to be the exact gravity the kit called for then make the adjustments to volume and add water. Then rejoice in the extra beers you have due to your AG kickassery.

I guess I might have to learn how to use some type of brewing software after all. I guess where I must have gone "wrong" is in the fact that I am getting better efficiency than they expect from most?

Is being 1-2 degrees over target temp going to make that much of a difference?

rollinred said:

Is being 1-2 degrees over target temp going to make that much of a difference?

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Your beer will be slightly fuller bodied than if you had mashed at the lower temperature.

bernerbrau said:

Your beer will be slightly fuller bodied than if you had mashed at the lower temperature.

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I understand that part. I was just asking you guys that have done this more if a 1-2 degree difference would be what had me off by such a large amount. .010 a significant gravity difference.

What was your final volume going into the fermenter?

rollinred said:

I understand that part. I was just asking you guys that have done this more if a 1-2 degree difference would be what had me off by such a large amount. .010 a significant gravity difference.

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Your temperature during the conversion rest shouldn't affect efficiency that much, no. A variation of ±0.01 from the predicted gravity is pretty normal. All-grain numbers are much less precise than extract numbers. Most recipes are formulated at 75% efficiency, which tends to be about the average. When you brew a lot of AG beers, eventually you figure out your brewhouse efficiency and scale your recipes accordingly.

Just be happy you didn't wind up with lower efficiency than you expected. Those brew days can suck!

beerkrump said:

What was your final volume going into the fermenter?

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Almost exactly 5 gallons, right where I expected it.

question was already answered....you got better efficiency than the recipe was calculated for. it probably assumes 70%, and you got 75-80% due to good practices.

the 3 degree temp swing only affects fermentablility, not efficiency.

malkore said:

question was already answered....you got better efficiency than the recipe was calculated for. it probably assumes 70%, and you got 75-80% due to good practices.

the 3 degree temp swing only affects fermentablility, not efficiency.

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The temp discrepancy relation to gravity really wasn't answered.

You did answer it so thank you!