Improving efficency with a keg mash tun

[breweringbeaz]

I recently started using a converted keg as a mash tun and efficiency went from 55 to 60%. I still feel this low and was curious on suggestions to help and bump efficiency to the 70s. I batch sparge. All help would be great.

 

[billl]

Do you have a braid or manifold or false bottom? What are your general procedures? Are you grinding your own grain? Are you treating the water to hit optimal ph?

As a general rule, if you are batch sparging (and stirring enough) and still getting sub 70% efficiency, then you probably aren't getting full conversion in the mash.

 

[broadbill]

If I were to guess, I would say your crush could be improved. A good way to test this is buy your grain from another place or have your current supplier double crush.

The other factors billl mentions could certainly be involved, but I would consider them secondary to a good crush.

 

[breweringbeaz]

Do you have a braid or manifold or false bottom? What are your general procedures? Are you grinding your own grain? Are you treating the water to hit optimal ph?

As a general rule, if you are batch sparging (and stirring enough) and still getting sub 70% efficiency, then you probably aren't getting full conversion in the mash.

I have a false bottom--my LHBS is doing the grinding. Typically i add boiling water to the tun to heat it up. Drain this( mainly to ensure I'm hitting my water numbers)- after 20 mins drain and add water to grains in a separate pot. To ensure grains are wet. Add the water to the mash tun and grains mixing well. Continue to stir or add ice to hit the correct mash temp. I stir every 15-20 mins. After mash time is complete I vorlauf about 3 times with about 2-3 quarts per time or until wort is clear. Then add water to batch sparge lately I've been doing batch in two steps hitting between 168-170 for temp for between 15-20 mins of time. I'm not treating the water.

 

[broadbill]

Doesn't sound like anything in your process is off the mark (except for mixing grains and water in separate container before adding to MT...not sure why you do that...)

I'd be willing to bet your LHBS isn't crushing the grains enough.

 

[breweringbeaz]

Doesn't sound like anything in your process is off the mark (except for mixing grains and water in separate container before adding to MT...not sure why you do that...)

I'd be willing to bet your LHBS isn't crushing the grains enough.

The wetted in the grains in another pot I just started doing through a recommendation. Would it be beneficial you think to ask the lhbs to grind them twice? Also I've never used a ph water treatment before how does that change things

 

[billl]

"Also I've never used a ph water treatment before how does that change things"

That depends on what your current water is like. All of these enzymes have optimal ph ranges. If you are close to optimal, you don't gain much. If you are significantly out of the optimal range, the enzymes are currently working much less effectively then their potential.

 

[broadbill]

The wetted in the grains in another pot I just started doing through a recommendation.

no difference wetting in a pot versus the MT, just another pot to clean at the end of the day

Would it be beneficial you think to ask the lhbs to grind them twice?

Yes, as I mentioned. If you don't think they will, I'd try another shop. The down-side is they might have theirs set loose as well (remember, it benefits the LHBS for you to have a poor crush, as they can sell you more grain!).

For online, I've had good luck with brewmasters warehouse's crush.

Also I've never used a ph water treatment before how does that change things

Unless your water is really whacked out, I'm not convinced this is much of a factor. Remember that are wash pH is affected by both the starting pH of the water as well as the buffering capacity in the grains when mixed in.

 

[breweringbeaz]

Thanks a lot for the feedback and suggestions

 

[xtian116]

I'd mention it to your LHBS. I was having a similar issue and talked to them. The owner went right over, tossed a scoop in the mill, examined it and apologized. Reset the mill and gave my grain for a 5 gallon batch on the house.

Man I'm going to miss that place! They closed to open a brewery. It was less than 2 miles from my house and they were great.