I decided to try and improve my efficiency on my 6-gallon big beers. My normal 11-gallon batches (1.045-1.055) have an efficiency of around 78%. My biggest beers however run lower because of capacity issues and my desire not to have a 2 hour boil.
I have a 10-gallon cooler setup and when I get to the RIS's and IPA's, things get a bit cramped. So much so that when I brewed my Tits-Up IIPA (1.085) back in November, I planned on and hit a 64% efficiency.
This time I decided to run my grains through the Barley Crusher twice. I always use rice hulls so I decided to get aggressive. My normal BC setting is just a bit more aggressive than the factory preset. It’s not that I fear a stuck sparge, but any more aggressive and the grains slip on the rollers and don’t get crushed.
I ran all 21 pounds of grains through at my normal setting. Then I set the rollers as close as they would go and re-ran the grist. They ran through quite easily. Where normally I might pick out 7-8 whole grains in a handful of crushed, the second time around insured that each and every grain was completely cracked.
The results:
Other comments:
Summary:
I have a 10-gallon cooler setup and when I get to the RIS's and IPA's, things get a bit cramped. So much so that when I brewed my Tits-Up IIPA (1.085) back in November, I planned on and hit a 64% efficiency.
This time I decided to run my grains through the Barley Crusher twice. I always use rice hulls so I decided to get aggressive. My normal BC setting is just a bit more aggressive than the factory preset. It’s not that I fear a stuck sparge, but any more aggressive and the grains slip on the rollers and don’t get crushed.
I ran all 21 pounds of grains through at my normal setting. Then I set the rollers as close as they would go and re-ran the grist. They ran through quite easily. Where normally I might pick out 7-8 whole grains in a handful of crushed, the second time around insured that each and every grain was completely cracked.
The results:
- The same recipe I hit 1084 with back in November…came in at 1094 this time.
- I went from 64% to 74% on a 6-gallon IIPA in a 10-gallon cooler setup.
- With adequate rice hulls in the grist, the sparge was absolutely no problem.
Other comments:
- It added about 50% more time to the crush phase of the brewing.
- About half of the extra crush time was offset by a shorter boil since my wort was a higher concentrate at lower pre-boil volumes.
- This is highly effective where a desired recipe is just beyond my normal setup capacity.
- I doubt that I’ll go to this much trouble on my normal range recipes. (Most of my recipes are dialed in at the 78% range)
- Moving crushed grains requires scooping with a pot rather than pouring because of the extra dust factor.
- Don’t confuse a fine crush with pulverizing the grains. This was not a “powder” after the 2nd crush and there was/is no risk of extracting tannins. (I’d bet it’s impossible to use a barley crusher and end up with tannins from pulverized husks.)
Summary:
- This is proof (of the obvious) that the degree of crush plays a huge part in efficiency.
- Whether you crush your own or have it done at the LHBS, if you’re willing to add rice hulls and want to extract substantially more sugars from your set up, try a double crush and see what happens.
- At 1094, I might have to add another I in front of my IIPA. (Or maybe, Three Tits Up..IIPA?)