I screwed up or solved the energy crisis, 122% efficiency.

[lump42]

I'm brewing a Munich Helles today. I calculated 122% efficiency. I'm trying to figure out where I screwed up.

I mashed in with 30 qt at 150F for 3hr (I brewed an extract batch during the mash and dealt with a 3yo). Pre-boil kettle volume 26 qt as expected. Expected pre-boil gravity was 1.042, actual pre-boil gravity is 1.063.

I checked the grain weights when I got them and they were correct and just double checked the leftover grain and they're as expected as well.

I also checked the gravity against a second hydrometer and they agreed. Both have been calibrated against distilled water.

My recipe:
8 lbs Pilsner
1 lbs Vienna
4 oz melanoidin

So if my volumes and grain weights are correct and I'm measuring gravity correctly, where else should I look for the error?


Edited for clarification

 

[pdxal]

Are you sure the volumes are correct?
Did you mix the sample of wort thoroughly before measuring gravity?
Did you measure the gravity at the temperature the hydrometers are calibrated at?
You said it was an extract batch, do you mean partial mash using both grain and extract?
With answers to those questions we might be able to help you more.

 

[IslandLizard]

I mashed in with 30 qt at 150F for 3hr (I brewed an extract batch).

You mashed for 3 hours?

Extract batch? Did you mean to write "all-grain"?

 

[Moose_MI]

What’s with all the haters assuming you screwed up?

I for one am thrilled that you solved the energy crisis! All that money I’m wasting on electric bill can now be redirected to malt and hops.

Thank you @lump42...thank you. I raise my glass to you good sir!

 

[lump42]

You mashed for 3 hours?

Extract batch? Did you mean to write "all-grain"?

Sorry for the confusion, I did a 3 hour mash. In that time I brewed an extract batch. It was supposed to be shorter, but a three year old required part of that 3 hrs as well.

 

[hopkincr]

What’s the problem? Athletes give 110% all the time.

 

[lump42]

Are you sure the volumes are correct?

I'm using the same volume markings as the past 20 or so batches.

Did you mix the sample of wort thoroughly before measuring gravity?

I mixed the mash, vorloufed 2 gallons. It's how I normally take the mash / pre-boil gravity.

Did you measure the gravity at the temperature the hydrometers are calibrated at?

Not at the exact calibrated temp, but +/- 5°. Just remeasured the sample at 62F and it's still reading 1.063.

You said it was an extract batch, do you mean partial mash using both grain and extract?

Sorry, I wasn't clear. I brewed an extract batch during the mash.

 

[lump42]

What’s with all the haters assuming you screwed up?

I for one am thrilled that you solved the energy crisis! All that money I’m wasting on electric bill can now be redirected to malt and hops.

Thank you @lump42...thank you. I raise my glass to you good sir!

Now I just need to reverse engineer what I did...

 

[Moose_MI]

Now I just need to reverse engineer what I did...

You do that....I’m going to keep drinking in celebration

Holler if i can help.

 

[lump42]

Did you mix the sample of wort thoroughly before measuring gravity?

Maybe I didn't get it mixed as well as I thought. I finally got a chance to measure the chilled post-boil gravity and it's almost spot on. I was expecting 1.048 and got 1.047.

Maybe with the little one riding his trike and keeping him out of the road, I took the sample before I stirred it. I'll have to remember to pull from the kettle and stir it well.

 

[IslandLizard]

OK, we've all been having a good time drinking, eating, spending time with friends and family, giving (and receiving) presents all week long. You're either testing us for still being delirious, or you think you got the ultimate gift, free gravity...

Expected pre-boil gravity was 1.042, actual pre-boil gravity is 1.063.

Not to bust that little bubble of extra beer/Christmas happiness, stop reading, right here!

I'm serious stop reading, stop scrolling!
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You've been warned, brew life may not be the same anymore...
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"Expected pre-boil gravity...
The key word is "Expected." Expected according to what? Your brewing software? Mash calculator?
You probably got way better efficiency than ever before, possibly due to your 3 hour mash. 40-50% better.
Perhaps your crush has always been too coarse, getting low mash efficiency? That's what you expected based on previous brew sessions. That's been corrected (and drastically, I must say) with the ultra long mash.

Mill finer and see if you can get that efficiency up by only mashing an hour. Do an Iodine test to check for full conversion (= no starch left).

 

[Moose_MI]

MODERATOR!!! ^^^^ He’s screwing up my brew life again!!


..and he burst my bubble ... WAAAHHH. WAAHHHHHH. WAHHH!

 

[lump42]

OK, we've all been having a good time drinking, eating, spending time with friends and family, giving (and receiving) presents all week long. You're either testing us for still being delirious, or you think you got the ultimate gift, free gravity...

Not to bust that little bubble of extra beer/Christmas happiness, stop reading, right here!

I'm serious stop reading, stop scrolling!
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
You've been warned, brew life may not be the same anymore...
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
"Expected pre-boil gravity...
The key word is "Expected." Expected according to what? Your brewing software? Mash calculator?
You probably got way better efficiency than ever before, possibly due to your 3 hour mash. 40-50% better.
Perhaps your crush has always been too coarse, getting low mash efficiency? That's what you expected based on previous brew sessions. That's been corrected (and drastically, I must say) with the ultra long mash.

Mill finer and see if you can get that efficiency up by only mashing an hour. Do an Iodine test to check for full conversion (= no starch left).

Agreed, a week with family stress and an energetic child hasn't helped my mental state. Standard practices get a little loose.

The only thing I did different this time was no-sparge and used a hop spider. The gravity is expected based on software that I dialed in.

I've been doing extended "ultra long" mashes to fit brewing around having a small child for the past few years. It really hasn't had any affect on the efficiency or fermentability.