First Wort Gravity

[jescholler]

Sorry if I'm asking a question that has been answered elsewhere. I'm in the middle of my first AG batch and have a question about the hydrometer reading.

I'm doing an AG wheat batch. I collected my 1st wort, measured the gravity, accounted for temperature, and I'm getting about 82% efficiency (using DeathBrewer's) stove top partial mash method. Seems too high for my first mash. I did stir the sparge and the mash waters to make sure they were well mixed.

I'm wondering if the particles in the wort (it is a wheat beer) affect the gravity. If so, what do I do?

Thanks.

 

[todd_k]

don't use the first runnings as they will have more particles in them. yes, the particles can affect the reading. try to get it as clear as possible, then re-test.

then smash your hydrometer into bits and throw it away. you will be better off. :cross:

 

[jescholler]

Maybe 1st wort was the wrong term. I mashed in a kettle on my stove. I sparged by soaking in another kettle on the stove. I combined the two kettles, mixed them up, and took the gravity. If there were particles, it was because they were in my entire wort.

To follow up, I let the hydrometer sit for about an hour while I boiled to let the particles settle. As the wort cooled and the particles settled, the gravity didn't budge. I think I really got 82% efficiency.

Aside from my mash temperature being all over the place (it was my 1st mash), and needing to boil with my pot partially covered (I extended the boil to 90 minutes to drive off more DMS), the batch went OK. Afterward I realized that my thermometer was slightly faulty, so who knows where my mash temperature really was. Stupid dial thermometers. I'm switching to floating.

Oh well. RDWHAHB. I learned lots of good lessons for my next mash.