I get good efficiency, should I adjust my software??

[HalfPint]

Over the past couple of years, I never really thought about it, but I recently reviewed my brew log, and I've noticed I'm consistently getting around 92% efficiency.

Have you guys noticed this "Good" problem? If so, do you adjust your software so you buy less grain, or do you just stick with it?

Thanks,
J

 

[Duffer]

I DEFINITELY do not have that prob! so someone correct me if I'm wrong here.

I suspect most recipes are written with an assumption of 80-ish% efficiency.

1) This mostly only affects alcohol/malt/hop balance. The recipe hop additions are 'weighted' against the expected 80% efficiency kinda deal thingy. Higher efficiency needs more hops.
2) Really high efficiencies are worrysome from the "are you sparging with boiling water/extracting husk bitters" line of thinking.
3) Efficiency takes time. So one must weigh the added time and added energy usage (propane of electricity) used -vs- leaving some sugars behind (cost of grain) sorta dealio.

Mostly, efficiency is a nice thing to know. Reproducibility is the grail tho.

Am I close?

 

[pkeeler]

It is always hard to figure out how people are calculating efficiency. There are about four different ways to do it. Having said that, if you are consistent, you should adjust your software for your actual efficiency.

I usually shoot a bit low, then if things work out, I just make more beer to keep Duffer's #1 in line.

 

[HalfPint]

Alright, I'm calculating efficiency by using gravity measurements. I use a lab thermometer and a probe thermometer. I've really nailed my routine over the past year or so. I know what a tannic beer tastes like and I don't get those very often.

With that said, the balance and reproducibility is what I want to get down to a science.

J

 

[pkeeler]

Sorry, I just mean that there are different ways (Palmer's is different than Daniels' and they are both different than how German brewers do it). It is mind numbing and I can't even tell you for sure which calculation I do. Which was my convoluted point. It really doesn't matter, because it is the calculation I use in recipe formulation. So, as long as my brewing is consistent and my math is consistent, my results will be consistent. Which is why I suggested using the better value in your software.

However, with software, you have to know what equation it is using and make sure you are using the same.

Maybe a for instance: If your brewing software says you are going to get 6.5 gal. of 1.040 wort, and a brewer gets 6.5 gal. or 1.035 wort, some people will report that as 87.5% efficiency (35/40). Others would probably have that as 67%, depending on how much grain they used.