Please rate my process - 65% Eff on ESB

[phatuna]

check this out to see what your 1st runnings conversion should be:
http://braukaiser.com/wiki/index.php?title=Image:First_wort_gravity.gif

Then, look around on BrauKaiser's website. there is a host of info there.

 

[goofiefoot]

I forgot to take a photo while I did this, but I filled my mash tun and drained it with a slight tilt. Once it stopped draining, I measured the leftover water - just a hair under 2 cups. Doesn't sound like a lot, does it? Not sure how I could get more out of it short of digging grains out.

As per my earlier post, my first runnings measured 1.043.

I've got 2 brews to do this week, so I'm going to experiment around with my volumes. Thicker mash, larger sparge, etc. I'll report some results.

It sounds to me like you're leaving some wort behind in the mash tun.

You should have gotten more than 4 gallons out of first runnings. I think you have a deadspace issue. Can you take a picture of the inside of your mash tun and post it? You might find it beneficial to prop the cooler up to lean towards the bulkhead drain for 5 gallon batches. You do have like a 2 foot piece of tubing hanging off of your ball valve right? You don't just open the valve and let it trickle right?

Any wort left in the tun, especially first runnings, is an efficiency killer. I have no reason to suspect you're having conversion problems... yet. Next time try taking a gravity reading of your first runnings. That will tell you your conversion or mash efficiency.

 

[motobrewer]

how are you guys draining wide open without disturbing your grain bed?

i drain wide open and get grain-city.