Hey guys,
I brewed yesterday and ran into a low efficiency again and feeling a bit frustrated that im so off from my numbers. It doesn't seem like the beer matters, but anytime im aiming at 1.070, I end up getting maybe 1.055 for my OG. So yesterday I took exact measurements of everything and I think the problem is my mash tun.
Here are some general notes about what I did, and I am hoping people can tell me where the most important change in my process or equipment is:
- For starters, ive recently started using a 45 QT mash tun from home depot, its rectangular with a dimension of 23" W x 14" D x 18" H
- Because of the above, worried about depth of grain bed. I wasn't able to measure the depth yesterday, but I had about 12 pounds of grain in a 23 x 14 area.
- My starting mash temperature ended up at 147 degrees once grain was added (my 168 degree water ended up there after grain addition). Took about 10 minutes, but got more hot water in and ended up right about 154 degrees.
- I did not stir or check the mash temp for an hour (I know this is an area that I probably need to start doing -- Not sure how often to check temp)
- Because of the temperature difference, I ended up adding significantly more water to the starting mash than the original calculating (4 gallons, ended up closer to 5 in the mash)
- I batched sparged 4 gallons of water, and tried to get it over all the grain, but given the area of grain, I doubt I was consistent
- When I pulled the liquid out of the mash tun, I completely opened the value. I believe I was pulling close to 1 gallon every 30-40 seconds. Been reading this may be WAY too fast and not allow the grain to do its thing.
I believe I have identified a bunch of areas to improve, but I am more curious from the group if there is one thing specifically I may be doing (in the above) that is really impacting my ability for efficiency. Ive only done all-grain about 4 times now, and I never feel like I have been able to hit my numbers. More so recently in the last two where I have the new mash tun. But not sure what the big impactor is to my efficiency.
I brewed yesterday and ran into a low efficiency again and feeling a bit frustrated that im so off from my numbers. It doesn't seem like the beer matters, but anytime im aiming at 1.070, I end up getting maybe 1.055 for my OG. So yesterday I took exact measurements of everything and I think the problem is my mash tun.
Here are some general notes about what I did, and I am hoping people can tell me where the most important change in my process or equipment is:
- For starters, ive recently started using a 45 QT mash tun from home depot, its rectangular with a dimension of 23" W x 14" D x 18" H
- Because of the above, worried about depth of grain bed. I wasn't able to measure the depth yesterday, but I had about 12 pounds of grain in a 23 x 14 area.
- My starting mash temperature ended up at 147 degrees once grain was added (my 168 degree water ended up there after grain addition). Took about 10 minutes, but got more hot water in and ended up right about 154 degrees.
- I did not stir or check the mash temp for an hour (I know this is an area that I probably need to start doing -- Not sure how often to check temp)
- Because of the temperature difference, I ended up adding significantly more water to the starting mash than the original calculating (4 gallons, ended up closer to 5 in the mash)
- I batched sparged 4 gallons of water, and tried to get it over all the grain, but given the area of grain, I doubt I was consistent
- When I pulled the liquid out of the mash tun, I completely opened the value. I believe I was pulling close to 1 gallon every 30-40 seconds. Been reading this may be WAY too fast and not allow the grain to do its thing.
I believe I have identified a bunch of areas to improve, but I am more curious from the group if there is one thing specifically I may be doing (in the above) that is really impacting my ability for efficiency. Ive only done all-grain about 4 times now, and I never feel like I have been able to hit my numbers. More so recently in the last two where I have the new mash tun. But not sure what the big impactor is to my efficiency.