Beersmith efficiency info?

[NeoBrew]

I've done a dozen or so batches with Beersmith. I'm finally starting to feel like I can find most of what I need in there. My last several batches have been all grain (BIAB). One thing that continues to vex me is setting and measuring efficiency. This is partly because I'm still learning and dialing in mash temps, water profiles/PH, and grain crush. But the software is not helping me much.

I find the various efficiencies that Beersmith calculates are confusing. I've tried to find tutorials and help in the Beersmith website. I've not found anything that describes brewhouse vs mash efficiency or how to measure, set the parameters, or learn from experience to get it dialed in for next time.

Does anybody know a good place to learn this stuff?


Sent from my iPhone using Home Brew

 

[grathan]

Brewhouse might count all losses up to bottling. Ex yeast, trub, kettle, and fermenter losses.

Mash efficiency is how much sugar you got out of the mash.

 

[brewfun]

The classic definition of brewhouse efficiency is measured in the kettle. BeerSmith uses the term to describe what should be called Brewhouse Yield. In BeerSmith, brewhouse efficiency is simply the percentage total sugars available that actually get into the fermenter. It does not include losses from fermentation or bottling.

The BeerSmith definition is given some explanation here. It gets discussed pretty regularly on the BeerSmith forum.

Both Brewer's Friend and Braukaiser have articles on it, too.

Here is a quick calculation for BHE. It's simple and direct and will get you into the ballpark for BeerSmith predictions.

BHE = (Sg x BV) / (Pg x GW)

BHE: Brew House Efficiency
Sg: Wort Specific Gravity, post chill (or post boil)
BV: Batch Volume, as measured in the fermenter
Pg: Potential gravity of grain (found by double clicking the ingredient, but 39 is a good starting number)
GW: Grain Weight

This formula simply divides the gravity points yielded into the fermenter by the total gravity point potential of grain (or extract or sugars) used.

 

[dantheman13]

I did a quick video on this a few months back that might help you out:

[ame]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bIoeFuNbDbU[/ame]

 

[NeoBrew]

Thanks brewfun and dantheman13! Those were all great resources.

I guess the thing that was holding me back was understanding the the total efficiency was the place to adjust my calcs for the next batch. It really seemed like I should be able to find a field to directly adjust mash efficiency.

With your help I've figured out my last batch was at 66.5% total efficiency. I've adjusted my equipment profile down from the default 72% to 66.5%

My mash efficiency this time was at was at 84.7%. I'm not sure how normal it is to have those number be closer together. I think the low total efficiency is cause by the fact that I'm doing BIAB and I leave a lot of gunk in the bottom of my pot when I drain to the fermenter in order to get mostly clear wort.