You know your not a noob when you get 90+ efficiency every rip.
5 lbs. American 2-row info
4 lbs. Pilsner Malt info
1 lbs. White Wheat info
1 lbs. Vienna Malt info
1 oz. Magnum (Whole, 14.50 %AA) boiled 60 min. info
1 oz. Cascade (Whole, 5.50 %AA) boiled 20 min. info
1 oz. Cascade (Whole, 5.50 %AA) boiled 5 min. info
Yeast : Danstar 3767 Nottingham info
Pulled 6.5 gallons off the mash for a pre-boil SG of 1.055. From now on I think I'll change the default mash efficiency in the calculator to 90 at least. I have never got under 90, even my first time. And I never change a thing.
I have always ran a continuous sparge. (Fly sparge)
I always mash in @ 153.
Stir every 15 minutes, let the bed settle for the last 15.
Clear my runnings.
Start my sparge arm when the water is 1" above the grain bed.
Every few minutes, I stir down 3 to 4" into the grain bed(this is with 10-12lbs of grain in a 10 gallon round igloo cooler, never disturb the last six inches and you will never have to clear your runnings again). I push the grain out towards the side of the cooler to keep the water from running around the grain. You know you have done it right when you have little bitty holes everywhere on the top the grain bed when the water level drops below.
Thats it. 90% or better every time.