First PM - OG way low. I thought I did everything perfectly?

[sheeshomatic]

Haven't seen it asked yet, but did you hit your volumes? Pre and post boil? I don't see that listed, and ensure it matches the recipe accurately?

Even with a bad sparge, yet good crush and mash, you should still see at LEAST 60% efficiency. Something isn't adding up.

 

[bottlebomber]

It could easily be a problem that cost you 10 points if the grains never really got over 150's. That higher temp is essential in sugar extraction. Also, the fact that you aren't using full volumes takes away efficiency too, and lots of it. Partial boils don't matter so much in extract brewing by mash strike and sparge volumes are very connected to efficiency in all grain brewing.

 

[Mumbly]

I have about a dozen or so partial mashes under my belt. i have noticed that through out the whole process i lose about 2 gallons to boil off, that being said i always start with a total of about 7 gallons between the mash and sparge water, with about 2.5 - 3 starting off in the mash. by the time the mash is done the grains have soaked up some water, and some has boiled off. after the mash i do like you and do the "Tea-bagging" method with a little bit of stirring and a little bit of soaking. after a bit of draining (i don't squeeze) i combine the two pots and go on with a full boil.

with this process i get pretty consistant results.

Hope you this helps

 

[bottlebomber]

Squeezing grains does nothing but extract up to a half gallon of perfect wort. If you want to try, squeeze the dickens out of your sack into a separate vessel. You'll taste nothing but nice sweet wort.

 

[Rev2010]

squeeze the dickens out of your sack

LOL!

Rev.

 

[OldWorld]

My electric stove is so awful that I simply steep my grains in the cold water...slowly get it up to 150...it takes forever...then leave the darn bag in until it boils then give it another eternity to reach boil.

I average 65-70 percent efficiency. Although that seems low I've gotten some wonderful 4.8-5.5 alcohol session ales..Steep it a little longer.

Have fun...Relax a lower gravity ale might actually make for a more approachable beer.

Good luck.

 

[bottlebomber]

squeeze the dickens out of your sack

WIN!

I knew today was going to be a good day for me!

:cross:

 

[motleybrews]

Didn't read the whole thread so my apologies if this has been asked. What was the temp of your hydro sample?

 

[robcj]

Nvm on the grain crush....mine looked like this:
https://www.homebrewtalk.com/f36/bad-crush-282702/

I would suggest a much finer crush. I BIAB myself but your PM process sounds exactly like a BIAB with a dunk or batch sparge. I do that sometimes myself when brewing a BIAB batch larger than my kettle would normally allow. I have found that the crush is the most important variable. I crush my grains much, much finer than the photo in the link above. I mash out but I don't squeeze the bag and I get great efficiency. (Too great, sometimes. I'm still fairly new to brewing and trying to fine-tune my process.)

I read a great post on this forum where someone advised to keep crushing until you're scared, then crush it a little finer still.

That said, I think that it's unlikely that your crush was the sole culprit. Because your OG was so far off, it's very possible there was also a measurement error involved somewhere along the line - grain bill, water volume, temperature or gravity.

 

[bottlebomber]

I think robcj has a point... if you don't have to worry about a stuck sparge you may as well grind it into sawdust

 

[Rev2010]

I read a great post on this forum where someone advised to keep crushing until you're scared, then crush it a little finer still.

Those were the words from Denny Conn.


Rev.