Less efficiency with 11 gallon batches vs 5.5 in 15 gallon pot?

[NitrogenWidget]

What volume of water are you starting with? And do you top up kettle after the mash? Those 2 variables are more important to OG than just the crush.

Water volume is not as important as crush fineness from my experience.
I've done AG partial mash's and boils for 5 gallon batches in <5 gallon pots then added a few gallons to the fermentor after and still hit my expected O.G.

My efficiency blew through the roof when I got my own mill vs having the LHB mill it.
In fact my efficiency seems to resemble my first few AG BIAB batches before I got my own mill.

I'm really thinking the issue here may of just been a poor crush due to the mill loosening up on one side.
I'm planning a double batch in two weekends so I'll see if that was the whole problem.

 

[wepeeler]

Water volume is not as important as crush fineness from my experience.
I've done AG partial mash's and boils for 5 gallon batches in <5 gallon pots then added a few gallons to the fermentor after and still hit my expected O.G.

My efficiency blew through the roof when I got my own mill vs having the LHB mill it.
In fact my efficiency seems to resemble my first few AG BIAB batches before I got my own mill.

I'm really thinking the issue here may of just been a poor crush due to the mill loosening up on one side.
I'm planning a double batch in two weekends so I'll see if that was the whole problem.

You said you were getting 90% efficiency with 5 gallon batches, but that seems extremely high for BIAB. Most people seem to average around 70-75%. Predicting 1.051 and getting 1.045 isn't that far off, tbh, especially when doubling the batch for the first time. I was notoriously off my predicted OGs when I first started brewing, and volume was the main culprit. If you don't know or start with exactly the same amount of water every time, and boil off and top up water varies, you can't possibly predict an accurate OG. Just trying to help. I was told time and time again by long time posters on the Beersmith forums that it was my volumes, and they ended up being correct. If you think it's the crush, it very may well be. Good luck.

 

[wilserbrewer]

I'm really thinking the issue here may of just been a poor crush due to the mill loosening up on one side.
.

Perhaps corona mill mod #47 should be replacing the crappy wing nuts with nylon lock nuts, would probably cost a whole dollar and would eliminate some BS...wing nuts pretty much suck....one would have to use real tools to adjust the mill, but it wouldn’t come undone w/ nylon lock nuts....something to think about hmmmm

 

[NitrogenWidget]

You said you were getting 90% efficiency with 5 gallon batches, but that seems extremely high for BIAB. Most people seem to average around 70-75%. Predicting 1.051 and getting 1.045 isn't that far off, tbh, especially when doubling the batch for the first time. I was notoriously off my predicted OGs when I first started brewing, and volume was the main culprit. If you don't know or start with exactly the same amount of water every time, and boil off and top up water varies, you can't possibly predict an accurate OG. Just trying to help. I was told time and time again by long time posters on the Beersmith forums that it was my volumes, and they ended up being correct. If you think it's the crush, it very may well be. Good luck.

Ed Worts Porter, using my mill and following his grain bill I hit 1.078 OG.
Ed's Pale ale, following his grain bill with my mill I hit OG of 1.070.
That's 90% efficiency (actually higher) when calculated out.
Too high ABV% and out of balance flavor basically ruined them for me.

I proceeded to then plug all recipes into brewtoad with a 90% efficiency and cut base malt until the OG came out where it was supposed to be and I hit that number almost every time as long as I had number of gals I calculated for in the end.

Now looking back at my past brews i'm seeing my last two regular batches before the 10 gal. octoberfest I made were below their mark by 3 & 4 points.
The 10 gallon that came in 6 pts. too low.

A 1 gallon batch of saison that came in 5 pts. lower than expected, a 1 gallon IPA that came in 5pts. lower I made last week...

I'm 75% sure it was the lose nuts on my mill.
but i've only got about a yr of AG and 20 batches so I could be wrong.
i've tried filling my pot to the brim and mixing during the mash. nada.
So i'm thinking, hoping it's the mill.

 

[NitrogenWidget]

Perhaps corona mill mod #47 should be replacing the crappy wing nuts with nylon lock nuts, would probably cost a whole dollar and would eliminate some BS...wing nuts pretty much suck....one would have to use real tools to adjust the mill, but it wouldn’t come undone w/ nylon lock nuts....something to think about hmmmm

You know i started getting lock-ups while milling and would have to use reverse then continue forward. I took the lid off the bucket but because I had the drill hanging off the bolt still it held the plates close and I didn't notice the slack.
it had been doing that my last few batches that came out lower.

It's tight now and i'm getting a stronger drill.
One that won't smoke.
However if my plates lock up with this drill i may end up getting thrown across the room. it's a heavy duty steel cased craigslist special.
Probably 30 yrs old.

 

[wepeeler]

Ed Worts Porter, using my mill and following his grain bill I hit 1.078 OG.
Ed's Pale ale, following his grain bill with my mill I hit OG of 1.070.
That's 90% efficiency (actually higher) when calculated out.
Too high ABV% and out of balance flavor basically ruined them for me.

I proceeded to then plug all recipes into brewtoad with a 90% efficiency and cut base malt until the OG came out where it was supposed to be and I hit that number almost every time as long as I had number of gals I calculated for in the end.

Now looking back at my past brews i'm seeing my last two regular batches before the 10 gal. octoberfest I made were below their mark by 3 & 4 points.
The 10 gallon that came in 6 pts. too low.

A 1 gallon batch of saison that came in 5 pts. lower than expected, a 1 gallon IPA that came in 5pts. lower I made last week...

I'm 75% sure it was the lose nuts on my mill.
but i've only got about a yr of AG and 20 batches so I could be wrong.
i've tried filling my pot to the brim and mixing during the mash. nada.
So i'm thinking, hoping it's the mill.

Well to be consistently low (3-6 points) is actually promising. It's probably just 1 variable accounting for it, and it does sound like it's the mill. Get it fixed and retry, I guess. Best of luck.

 

[DoctorMemory]

However if my plates lock up with this drill i may end up getting thrown across the room. it's a heavy duty steel cased craigslist special.
Probably 30 yrs old.

If it's a Milwaukee Hole Hawg you *will* get thrown across the room, or get your arm broken. I used one of those when I used to work construction, drilling a wall stud with a spade bit I hit a knot and it twisted the stud right out of the plate and wrenched my shoulder all to hell.

 

[PersonalBrewer]

heh, heh.

I'm using a milwaukee 1/2" drill, that has a cord.

Probably 25 years old.

Makes sure the grain goes through. But, you better be holding it right.

 

[NitrogenWidget]

Last night brewed a 5 gallon batch of ipa.
Hit my expected OG on the nose and showing 85% efficiency.
I took the channel locks to my wingnuts to make sure they didn't loosen and re-adjusted spacing of the plates.

I also let the home brew shop crush the grain so my poor drill doesn't smoke when I crush it even more.

I'm still trying out 5 gallon batches of different beers so soon as I find one I really like i'll brew up 10 gallons and see how it comes out.