OK, I was brewing a Hefe-Weizen today, I plugged my ingredients into Beer Smith, and it gives me (assuming 75% Eff) a pre-boil gravity of 1.055. I mash in at 166, and old 154 for 60 min. Mash out @ 168. Drain the Mash Tun, and batch sparge with 170 water. Giving me a total of around 6.8 gallons. I put it into the keggle, and stir both runnings together. I take a Hydro sample AND a refractometer reading. I come up with 11.2 brix, or 1.044. Giving me a grand total of 56% efficiency.
After the boil I take another hydro reading and to my surprise, its 1.061, right on target @ 74% Eff.
So what gives, what am I missing, am I doing something wrong, or is pre-boil hydro samples just a waste of time, If so then why did I get a refractometer??
Thanks for the help.
Josh
After the boil I take another hydro reading and to my surprise, its 1.061, right on target @ 74% Eff.
So what gives, what am I missing, am I doing something wrong, or is pre-boil hydro samples just a waste of time, If so then why did I get a refractometer??
Thanks for the help.
Josh