For those of you doing BIAB consistently, what kind of efficiency are you getting? I've been doing mostly BIAB PM brews (with a sparge) for almost 3 years now, and I seem to get crazy high efficiency. The default setting on my software is 75%, and I generally surpass the OG by quite a bit. For instance, I brewed a kolsch yesterday that should have come in at 1046, but actually read between 1050 and 1051 which gives me an efficiency of more like 84%. For the record, these are hydrometer readings taken right before pitching yeast, which means I have added extract and top-up water at this point. I don't have a refractometer to take readings before boiling. Although, my batch yesterday only had 1 pound of extract and about 0.5 gallons of top-up water, so it was NEARLY all grain.
I have heard that BIAB can yield fairly high efficiency, but I'm curious if others are experiencing efficiency in the mid-80s.
For those who like to know all the details, here was my recipe:
6# German pilsner mash 60 mins. at 148
0.5# Munich Light 10L mash 60 mins. at 148
1# Pilsen DME late boil (15 mins.)
1 oz. Tettnang 60 mins 4.6%AA
0.5 oz. Crystal 60 mins 4.1%AA
1 Whirfloc tablet late boil (15 mins.)
Wyeast 2565 Kolsch
I mashed on the lower end to keep it dryer, which might also explain the higher OG. I sparge using a second kettle with 2 gallons of water heated to 160. I "teabag" the grains, and then let them sit for another 30 mins for a little more conversion. Basically, I use Deathbrewer's Stovetop Partial Mash thread for guidance.
I have heard that BIAB can yield fairly high efficiency, but I'm curious if others are experiencing efficiency in the mid-80s.
For those who like to know all the details, here was my recipe:
6# German pilsner mash 60 mins. at 148
0.5# Munich Light 10L mash 60 mins. at 148
1# Pilsen DME late boil (15 mins.)
1 oz. Tettnang 60 mins 4.6%AA
0.5 oz. Crystal 60 mins 4.1%AA
1 Whirfloc tablet late boil (15 mins.)
Wyeast 2565 Kolsch
I mashed on the lower end to keep it dryer, which might also explain the higher OG. I sparge using a second kettle with 2 gallons of water heated to 160. I "teabag" the grains, and then let them sit for another 30 mins for a little more conversion. Basically, I use Deathbrewer's Stovetop Partial Mash thread for guidance.