Low fermentation volume

I have made two AG batches and I cannot seem to get my target fermentation volume. I have Beersmith and have my boil off set. After the boil I have the correct amount. The only thing I can think is i'm loosing a lot when racking from kettle to the carboy? Should I set the trub loss in Beersmith higher than .5 gal?

 

As the liquid cools is loses volume. Are you compensating for that?

 

Yes, Beersmith calculates the cooling loss.

 

Are you making hoppy beers? I lose a decent amount to the hops. I just got beersmith and hadn't noticed that feature yet. In a 5 gallon batch I wouldn't expect to have more than a half gallon of trub though. It's got to be loss during transfer then.

 

No, my last beer was a simple ESB.

 

Maybe the graduations are off on what you're measuring with. I've read on here some people don't trust the marks on buckets for that reason but I've never run into it. Are you losing a lot?

 

Not really. I normally hit 5 gallons in the fermenter. But I'm shooting for 5.5.

 

I'd just add .5gal to somewhere in the beersmith then. I try not to live and die by the numbers they provide since they don't have my exact spec on equipment. Maybe that's the problem?

 

Why not just start your preboil with a half gallon more then? You'll hit exactly as you want in the fermenter.


Rev.

 

Is your pre-boil volume correct? If so, just adjust your boil-off rate. If not, check your later tun dead space calculation.

 

My pre-boil is what beersmith calls for. What is the dead space calculation?

 

It's the space between your valve and the bottom of your pot.

 

I didn't know you could set that.