I started out brewing 3 gallon batches in all grain and have all the related gear sized to this volume.
For Christmas, I received a 6.5 gallon Mini-Brew conical and am now on my second batch. The first was an Irish Red, which is my best to date, and I attribute this to the new conical. I only brewed a 4 gallon batch due to the constraints of my other gear and brewed using a concentrated wort as described here:
http://www.classiccitybrew.com/homebrew.html.
So far, all the batches I have done this way have come out just fine. My brew pot is bursting at the seams with 4-1/2 gallons and I can cool it down below 75 degrees in an ice bath within 15 minutes.
Wanting to go bigger, I decided to do another concentrated wort for a 5 gallon batch and brewed up an Oatmeal Stout on Sunday.
I am lowering my grain/water ratio for the mash and adding cool water after the boil to reach my target OG. I am batch sparging in an Igloo cooler with a SS braid manifold. Both times I hit target OG at the desired volumes.
Now the questions:
Is there anything wrong with this method? (I like what I'm brewing, but would it be better otherwise)
If I am doing all my calculations based on 70% efficiency and hit a target OG at the desired volume - am I getting 70% - or is there something I'm missing?
Any input is welcome.
For Christmas, I received a 6.5 gallon Mini-Brew conical and am now on my second batch. The first was an Irish Red, which is my best to date, and I attribute this to the new conical. I only brewed a 4 gallon batch due to the constraints of my other gear and brewed using a concentrated wort as described here:
http://www.classiccitybrew.com/homebrew.html.
So far, all the batches I have done this way have come out just fine. My brew pot is bursting at the seams with 4-1/2 gallons and I can cool it down below 75 degrees in an ice bath within 15 minutes.
Wanting to go bigger, I decided to do another concentrated wort for a 5 gallon batch and brewed up an Oatmeal Stout on Sunday.
I am lowering my grain/water ratio for the mash and adding cool water after the boil to reach my target OG. I am batch sparging in an Igloo cooler with a SS braid manifold. Both times I hit target OG at the desired volumes.
Now the questions:
Is there anything wrong with this method? (I like what I'm brewing, but would it be better otherwise)
If I am doing all my calculations based on 70% efficiency and hit a target OG at the desired volume - am I getting 70% - or is there something I'm missing?
Any input is welcome.