OG way too high!

[JKoroniak]

Hey everyone, I'm new the forums and only 4 months into brewing. I recently did a couple of all grain batches, one was Ed Wort's Haus Pale Ale, and another was a Cream Ale of my own design. The mash went very well, as did the boil, however I overshot my OG both times by quite a bit:

Ed Wort's Grain Bill

8 lbs 2 Row
2 lbs Vienna Malt
0.5 lbs Crystal 10L

Mashed at 152 F for 60 mins, boiled until hot break + 60m, OG should've been 1.051 but was actually 1.066

Cream Ale Grain Bill

7.5 lbs 6 Row
2 lbs Flaked Corn
1 lbs Dextrin Carapils Malt
0.5 lbs Crystal 10L

Also mashed at 152 F for 60 mins, boiled until hot break = 60m, OG should've been 1.049 but was actually 1.061

What is going on? I'm measuring my grain using an accurate digital scale, my mash temp is right on, and my pH is 5.2. Is it possible my efficiency is just that high? Or am I missing something?

I'd really appreciate anyone's help on this!

 

[RMitch]

Enjoy it.

 

[Pappers_]

If you're measuring the original gravity accurately, then I don't think you're missing anything.

Do you use Beersmith or similar brewing software? It will figure out your efficiency for you, and you can then use that efficiency for future recipes, so you will come closer to your target original gravity.

 

[JKoroniak]

I believe I'm measuring the OG accurately, it reads 1.000 with 70 F water, and the wort is measured at 70 F.

Unfortunately I can't use beersmith (I'm a mac user). I use beercalculus (online at hopville), but I have to give it my efficiency. I heard that getting higher than 85% efficiency is unrealistic for the home brewer, but to hit those gravities I would need over 90% efficiency.

 

[TipsyDragon]

when you enter the recipe your assuming a particular efficiency out of the system. im sure there is a setting somewhere on the program you are using. your system/technique is obviously more efficient than you thought. next time use less grain (it will save you money)

 

[Sean]

Off topic: Why 6 row for the cream ale? Did you need a step mash?

What are you using to measure the grain amounts?

 

[JKoroniak]

Two reasons for the six-row: First, the local shop was out of 2-row, and second, I read that pre-prohibition lagers often used six-row, so I figured maybe the cream ale would as well. But of course I have no substantial evidence to support this, and I really haven't had the opportunity to taste the difference between six row and two row, so I figured I would give it a shot.

I'm measuring my grain using a digital scale, it's quite accurate.

 

[JKoroniak]

when you enter the recipe your assuming a particular efficiency out of the system. im sure there is a setting somewhere on the program you are using. your system/technique is obviously more efficient than you thought. next time use less grain (it will save you money)

Alright, I just thought the efficiency was too high to be the culprit. I wanted to know if anything else could be responsible for such a high OG.

 

[Pappers_]

I put the grain bill for Pale Ale into Beersmith and assuming 70% efficiency and a five gallon batch, it estimated an original gravity of 1.053. Putting in your actual original gravity of 1.066 it gave an efficiency of 86%.

For your next batch, you might enter 85% efficiency into Beercalculus when determining your grainbill and see how it works.

For what its worth, its not at all unusual to have to experiment a little to get your process (and numbers) locked in - the good news is that you're making great beer while you're doing it!

Jim

 

[JKoroniak]

I put the grain bill for Pale Ale into Beersmith and assuming 70% efficiency and a five gallon batch, it estimated an original gravity of 1.053. Putting in your actual original gravity of 1.066 it gave an efficiency of 86%.

For your next batch, you might enter 85% efficiency into Beercalculus when determining your grainbill and see how it works.

For what its worth, its not at all unusual to have to experiment a little to get your process (and numbers) locked in - the good news is that you're making great beer while you're doing it!

Jim

Hmm, alright I'll start writing out my recipes with an assumed efficiency of 85%. Thanks for handling all the math!

BTW, this forum rocks. Thanks to everyone for their words of wisdom.

 

[Pappers_]

J, it just occurred to me - are you hitting your final volume? If your volume is low (say closer to 4 gallons than 5), then your original gravity would be higher than expected.

Jim

 

[JKoroniak]

I thought that might be the problem with the Ed Wort's, so when I did the cream ale I started the boil with extra volume and measured afterwards. So the Ed Wort's may be under 5gal, but the Cream Ale was slightly over 5 gal.

 

[WyomingBrewer]

http://www.brew365.com/mash_sparge_water_calculator.php

Try this for your volumes....works good for me most of the time.

 

[FromZwolle]

i just did the same thing on my cream ale, way over the expected/calculated og. 87% efficiency!

My new mill is the culprit. I'm getting a way better crush than i got out of my old ghetto, home made mill. The dumb part is that i already crushed the grain for another batch as well. I'll just have to get creative with my volumes for that one.