How much extra base malt?

[JCasey1992]

Hi all!

My last batch came out with a very low OG and I have read that adding extra base malt to the mash can help address that problem. Is there a specific amount to add to the mash? For now I've picked up 2 additional pounds of base malt that I'm going to use for a brown ale.

The brown ale I'm brewing can be found at the address below. Keep in mind that I am scaling down to a 5.5 gallon batch from the original 10 gallons

https://www.homebrewtalk.com/showthread.php?t=36912

Thanks,
Casey

 

[JONNYROTTEN]

First you need to address why your getting a low OG and correct it.That being said using this link punch in your grains and youll get an OG at a specific efficiency %. Say 75%. Then lower the % till you get to the low OG you got.Then add base grains till you get to the correct OG and that how much grains you need. Just adding base grains will throw off your balance with the other grains. This is better suited for small adjustments after you know what your average efficiency is....but you asked so there you go.
Again post your brewing procedure so we can help fix your low OG issue to correct it

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct...lator/&usg=AFQjCNGINsjp6pydyjQsGrsJ90rL-cOBrg

 

[martiniw2olives]

First you need to address why your getting a low OG and correct it.That being said using this link punch in your grains and youll get an OG at a specific efficiency %. Say 75%. Then lower the % till you get to the low OG you got.Then add base grains till you get to the correct OG and that how much grains you need. Just adding base grains will throw off your balance with the other grains. This is better suited for small adjustments after you know what your average efficiency is....but you asked so there you go.
Again post your brewing procedure so we can help fix your low OG issue to correct it

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct...lator/&usg=AFQjCNGINsjp6pydyjQsGrsJ90rL-cOBrg

In BeerSmith you can make adjustments based on brewhouse efficiency and just doesn't add or decrease base malt.

 

[JCasey1992]

I use biab. I typically do a full volume mash in a 20 gallon stock pot for 60-90 minutes. After the mash, I just boil and add ingredients as the recipe calls for. Because the pot is so large, I typically use a cleaned mesh laundry bag for my bag. Due to the fact that I only brew 5 gallon batches, I imagine my low efficiency is due to the size of the pot but please let me know if there is something else.

 

[chickypad]

We need a lot more info to help you. What was your last recipe - grainbill, total water volume, mash temp, etc.? What was your OG and your ending volume post boil and chill? Are you crushing your own grains? Can you show a pic of your crush?

 

[JCasey1992]

We need a lot more info to help you. What was your last recipe - grainbill, total water volume, mash temp, etc.? What was your OG and your ending volume post boil and chill? Are you crushing your own grains? Can you show a pic of your crush?

My previous recipe can be found here. I followed it exactly: https://www.homebrewtalk.com/showthread.php?t=35679

I crush my grains at my local home brew shop. I do not have pictures for that particular batch though. They do however have a very good mill so I imagine it does a good job. if memory serves, my OG was about 1.042 out of a target 1.052. As for my volume, I have not been calculating that post boil and chill and am not sure how to go about doing that so if you have any tips, please let me know. However, When the beer went into the fermenter, It was probably about 5.5 gallons.

Casey

 

[JCasey1992]

Here's a photo of another crush to give you an idea of how it worked out. It came out of the same machine.

View attachment 1483346593679.jpg

 

[RM-MN]

My previous recipe can be found here. I followed it exactly: https://www.homebrewtalk.com/showthread.php?t=35679

I crush my grains at my local home brew shop. I do not have pictures for that particular batch though. They do however have a very good mill so I imagine it does a good job. if memory serves, my OG was about 1.042 out of a target 1.052. As for my volume, I have not been calculating that post boil and chill and am not sure how to go about doing that so if you have any tips, please let me know. However, When the beer went into the fermenter, It was probably about 5.5 gallons.

Casey

Don't count on it. It isn't in their interests to set the mill for the best results. It is in their interests to avoid making customers upset because the got a stuck sparge from using their grains so the mill is set a bit coarse to avoid that but that leads to lower efficiency. Oh darn, the customer needs to buy more grains.

The first three things that cause a low efficiency in the mash are:
1. The crush.
2. The crush.
3. The crush.

All other factors fall far below these 3.

If you want to get great efficiency with BIAB, buy your own mill. The Corona mills are really cheap and do a great job. Set the mill as tight as you can and have at it.

 

[PADave]

Don't count on it. It isn't in their interests to set the mill for the best results. It is in their interests to avoid making customers upset because the got a stuck sparge from using their grains so the mill is set a bit coarse to avoid that but that leads to lower efficiency. Oh darn, the customer needs to buy more grains.

The first three things that cause a low efficiency in the mash are:
1. The crush.
2. The crush.
3. The crush.

All other factors fall far below these 3.

If you want to get great efficiency with BIAB, buy your own mill. The Corona mills are really cheap and do a great job. Set the mill as tight as you can and have at it.

I was in the same boat before I bought my mill. Depending on where I ordered my grains from, I'd get different results every brew. One time I'd be close to hitting my numbers, then next time, way off. Bought my own mill and now hit my numbers every time. I just compensate the high efficiency that I now get with more volume, and make a slightly larger batch, rather than reducing ingredients. With BIAB you want a crush finer than a traditional mash setup. Like said above, your shop is going to stay to the coarser side of things to avoid a stuck sparge.

 

[JONNYROTTEN]

Here's a photo of another crush to give you an idea of how it worked out. It came out of the same machine.

Its probably the picture but I'm not seeing a lot of white meaning its not crushed enough. Get the mill in the link and never look back.Plus you can buy bulk grain and save money every time you brew.
Theres only 3 things that effect OG:
Not the correct amount of water= diluted wort low OG
Not mashing at the correct temp
Poor crush-most likely your issue
http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=...0.html&usg=AFQjCNHjFog5wDjn8kw9jHeg9ScrF_cb4Q

 

[chickypad]

Yeah as others mentioned crush is likely your number 1 culprit, yours looks way too coarse for BIAB. As for volumes, did you dump all the wort into the fermenter? If not and you tend to have significant kettle losses you'll have to account for that when building your recipes. One way to measure kettle volumes is some kind of dipstick that you mark or measure with - I mark a plastic spoon, others use a metal yard marker, etc. How much water did you start with and are you squeezing the bag?

 

[motosapiens]

I just throw an extra lb or so of base-malt in, and if the OG comes out any higher than expected, i just add a quart or so of water before i pitch the yeast. I'm sure there are all kinds of dogmatic reasons why I should do something different, but until i get my own mill (coming in the next few weeks), it has been working fine.

In my case it is definitely the crush from my LHBS. i experimented by running my grains through the mill twice, and it bumped up the efficiency significantly, but i'm too lazy to do that every time when i can just pay .80 for another lb of base malt.

 

[NSMikeD]

as mentioned brew smith as well as biabacus will calculate extract malt additions if you miss your OG. I keep DME on hand. Also, most calculators will enable you to plug in your own efficiency % to reflect your experiences, assuming they are consistent, and adjust your grain bill.

I fixed my missing OG by double milling the grains. My local HB shop mills for me, I asked that he not change the settings, but run it twice. I don't have to tinker with recipes as I seem to hit 70% conversion pretty close now, and just in case, I can plug in the numbers and quickly measure out some DME with confidence that the amount will get OG where I want it.

 

[JCasey1992]

Thank you all for the advice as well as being patient with me (total noob here). I wound up ordering this grain mill. http://www.homebrewing.org/Barley-Crusher-Grain-Mill-7LB-Hopper_p_872.html Hopefully, this will help with my efficiency. I'll do my best to keep you all posted.

 

[JONNYROTTEN]

Thank you all for the advice as well as being patient with me (total noob here). I wound up ordering this grain mill. http://www.homebrewing.org/Barley-Crusher-Grain-Mill-7LB-Hopper_p_872.html Hopefully, this will help with my efficiency. I'll do my best to keep you all posted.

To late now but The Barley Crusher is the exact same as the Cereal killer only more money