Hitting my gravity numbers

[bruhaha]

I made an AG BIAB recipe and took my OG reading thinking I missed my numbers by a bit not that much. My recipe had me looking for 1.065 OG at 72% efficiency. When I took my reading prior to pitching yeast, I was at 1.062. Not too bad I thought, not great, but passable.

HOWEVER, I think I need to rethink this a bit. The recipe was for 5G and I am assuming this means 5G into fermenter. When I checked my volume into fermenter prior to yeast pitch, I was a shade over 6G. For all practical purposes, just say I was at 6G even.

So what does this mean in the big scheme of things? I assume my efficiency is based on my OG AND my volume into fermenter. I missed my volume, but after all said and done, how does this work out in the end?

 

[JONNYROTTEN]

Correct OG goes by total volume so your at 6 gallons. without punching in the numbers I would say you hit your efficiency dead on and have no worries..If you go on Brewers Friend recipe calculator you can punch in your volume and ingredients and get your real efficiency..FWIW I don't sweat being off a few points either way

 

[PADave]

It means your efficiency was higher than 72%. If you were shooting for 1.065 for 5 gal, but got 6 gal at that gravity, then you got more sugars. If you were to have made only 5 gal, you would have got a higher OG.

 

[wilserbrewer]

Yielding 6 gallons instead of 5 is a huge difference, a 20 % increase.

If your 72% is accurate for 5 gallons, your actual efficiency is around 90%

Calculating efficiency without measuring volumes and grain weights accurately can have a drastic effect, so much so I usually don't bother. If I come close to my intended gravity, I clean up with a smile on my face.

Taking preboil gravity and volume measurements is a good idea and can be an opportunity to make an adjustment, can be batch saver. If Gravity is excessively low, one can extend the boil, or add some water if too high.

 

[bruhaha]

After reading your posts, I plugged in my grain bill and came up with 80.26% overall efficiency. I am learning to use a new grain mill so I am checking myself to see if my grind is ok. The only reading I took was after the boil into the fermenter, but I see I can also take a reading pre-boil. I suppose evaporation rate will be a factor between these two readings.

I am going to do another batch soon and once again check my numbers. I am using Beer Smith and the program asks for efficiency numbers with the default being 72%. If I am not mistaken (please correct me if I am), I can input my own eff % numbers which will influence my recipes. For example, if I am at 80% instead of 72%, the recipe will have me cut back on grains.

I don't want to be one to obsess over the numbers game. However, while I am trying to learn water volume management and other variables, I feel the need to learn how this all ties in together. Once I nail it down and understand what is going on, I'll trust my equipment and my process is dialed in and won't be a numbers cruncher.

I'm trying to learn...THANKS!!

 

[PADave]

After reading your posts, I plugged in my grain bill and came up with 80.26% overall efficiency. I am learning to use a new grain mill so I am checking myself to see if my grind is ok. The only reading I took was after the boil into the fermenter, but I see I can also take a reading pre-boil. I suppose evaporation rate will be a factor between these two readings.

I am going to do another batch soon and once again check my numbers. I am using Beer Smith and the program asks for efficiency numbers with the default being 72%. If I am not mistaken (please correct me if I am), I can input my own eff % numbers which will influence my recipes. For example, if I am at 80% instead of 72%, the recipe will have me cut back on grains.

I don't want to be one to obsess over the numbers game. However, while I am trying to learn water volume management and other variables, I feel the need to learn how this all ties in together. Once I nail it down and understand what is going on, I'll trust my equipment and my process is dialed in and won't be a numbers cruncher.

I'm trying to learn...THANKS!!

I'm at the same place. Just got my grain mill and used it for one brew so far. Went from efficiency in the high 60's to over 80% Since all my fermenters are 7 to 8 gallons, I'm not looking to reduce grain amounts to compensate, I'd rather make a larger batch, 5.5 - 6 gallon. I'm not looking to obsess over hitting numbers exactly, but I'd like to get something close to what I was shooting for. I started messing around with Brewers Friend, and just need to get things dialed in now.

 

[JONNYROTTEN]

80% is very good and will be hard to get much better so whatever your doing your doing it correct. Taking gravity reading pre boil is a waste of time,recipes and figuring ABV all go by post boil like your doing...I'd say your all set on your process

 

[bruhaha]

80% is very good and will be hard to get much better so whatever your doing your doing it correct. Taking gravity reading pre boil is a waste of time,recipes and figuring ABV all go by post boil like your doing...I'd say your all set on your process

I am doing a relatively tight setting on my 3 roller mill and noted the grind is finer than my LHBS does their grind. In fact, on a recent purchase, I reground the grains I bought from them already ground. I am now buying my grains unmilled and grind them as I brew. In a BIAB situation. I see no issues grinding nice and fine. I still see good cracked grain structure and not all powder, but the grind is finer than some I have seen.

Now that I am taking control of the entire process including my grind, I am getting more consistency. Only thing I am dialing in now is water management. Evaporation is stumping me, and I note with cooler weather and low humidity, my evaporation loss is much lower. It was off by 1/2 gallon (less loss) compared to what it was in the summer.

 

[tgolanos]

Evaporation is stumping me, and I note with cooler weather and low humidity, my evaporation loss is much lower. It was off by 1/2 gallon (less loss) compared to what it was in the summer.

The weather is a pain to brew with, ain't it? Keep taking notes as you brew and you'll figure it all out.

I think you have it backwards with humidity, though. In high humidity, your evaporation rate should be LESS because the air is already saturated. Likewise, in low humidity your evaporation rate will be higher since the air can absorb more water.

 

[JONNYROTTEN]

I am doing a relatively tight setting on my 3 roller mill and noted the grind is finer than my LHBS does their grind. In fact, on a recent purchase, I reground the grains I bought from them already ground. I am now buying my grains unmilled and grind them as I brew. In a BIAB situation. I see no issues grinding nice and fine. I still see good cracked grain structure and not all powder, but the grind is finer than some I have seen.

Now that I am taking control of the entire process including my grind, I am getting more consistency. Only thing I am dialing in now is water management. Evaporation is stumping me, and I note with cooler weather and low humidity, my evaporation loss is much lower. It was off by 1/2 gallon (less loss) compared to what it was in the summer.

After a few BIAB youll get your averages. When I was starting my system I took measurements in reverse. How much liquid I wanted post boil including yeast cake loss. I do double batches and want 6 gallons each fermenter. I filled my brew pot with exactly 12 gallons and took a measurement from the lip down.I said " this is where I need to be finished product" I figure a gallon boil off and gallon grain absorption.So 14 gallon strike water. I'm usually a little short and dump some water into the lifted grain bag(sparge) to get my pre boil (one gallon extra) volume, My pot just so happens to be an inch per gallon so its easy...Theres mathematical ways to figure your pot size gallon per inch

 

[bruhaha]

After a few BIAB youll get your averages. When I was starting my system I took measurements in reverse. How much liquid I wanted post boil including yeast cake loss. I do double batches and want 6 gallons each fermenter. I filled my brew pot with exactly 12 gallons and took a measurement from the lip down.I said " this is where I need to be finished product" I figure a gallon boil off and gallon grain absorption.So 14 gallon strike water. I'm usually a little short and dump some water into the lifted grain bag(sparge) to get my pre boil (one gallon extra) volume, My pot just so happens to be an inch per gallon so its easy...Theres mathematical ways to figure your pot size gallon per inch

That is a darn good way to look at the big picture. Luckily I have a sight glass, but looking at your volumes in reverse makes great sense! I am going to do that next time.

Since I want to put 5G into my keg, I figure 5.5G into fermenter will give me a bit of yeast sediment at the bottom when I rack into keg. I am trying to hit my volumes so it will fit into a keg pretty evenly.

Good suggestion.

 

[Morrey]

Great job Bruhaha. To get over 80% BH efficiency is a goal some home brewers never see. Seems you are doing a lot of things right including your grind and proper ph management in your mash.

You'll get the water volume part down pat soon enough. You can adjust volumes into fermenter by continuing your boil until you reach the vol you desire, or adding some water depending on which way you need to go.

Either of these can impact your OG into fermenter, so you are correct to say proper water management is your best goal rather than adjusting. You are also correct in the BeerSmith will adjust your grain bill slightly once you input the eff% you settle in on instead of the programs default %. However, we are basically splitting hairs here and most brewers are more than happy to do what you are already doing successfully.

Great job!!

 

[Mer-man]

... Taking gravity reading pre boil is a waste of time,recipes and figuring ABV all go by post boil like your doing...I'd say your all set on your process

Taking preboil gravity is not a waste of time, it is a useful metric that allows you to make adjustments with regard to the boil. Too low? Add some DME. Or adjust your boil length. Too high? Add water and have more beer.
But this only matters if you are trying to control your process.

If ABV is your only concern, that's ok too. But measurements can only help your process.

 

[TexasWine]

Taking preboil gravity is not a waste of time, it is a useful metric that allows you to make adjustments with regard to the boil. Too low? Add some DME. Or adjust your boil length. Too high? Add water and have more beer.
But this only matters if you are trying to control your process.

If ABV is your only concern, that's ok too. But measurements can only help your process.

Also helps with trouble shooting your process should you be missing targets for volume and or gravity.