What Batch Sparge efficiency are you getting?

[DPBISME]

So I bet this question is somewhere but I seem to be bulletin Board Challanged... I have yet to figure how to search....

I have brewed about 8 all grain batches:

Each time I try to add a brewing skill.

So recipie formulation, mashing, boiling, using a hydrometer (which I always for get to do)

Now I am calculating efficency... I usually just used software and assumed 75% because I was new at this....

BUT I am geting "hammered" by what were supposed to be medium to low ABV beers;;; It makes me think I am getting better efficency than 75%...

My plan each time has been to sparge twice but each time there is still sugar I can taste in the wort so I do a SMALL third, boil it off to the side, and then add it to the main wort... (this might account for the higher efficency)...

SO: what are you fine brewers getting????

 

[Kingfish]

I don't think you are asking the right question. The question I believe you should be asking is one you will ask yourself..."What efficiency am I getting." If you are using something like BeerSmith, you can plug in your actual numbers (volumes, hydrometer readings) and it will give you your efficiency. You will then adjust your recipe to YOUR efficiency.

 

[MaltnHops]

I usually get 73-77% on my darker beers and 78-85% on my lighter colored beers. I'm assuming because of the less fermentable sugars in the roasted malts on my darker beers.

 

[DPBISME]

No argument Kingfish... I just figure if I got a lot of "like" responses I migh be able to make an edge-a-ma-cate-ed guess to explane the high alcohol of these last few brews.

If I actually remember to take readings when I am supposed to I will also get the answer... but sitting here bored... I figured I would ask the question.

Happy Friday.

 

[Denny]

I average 80-85% batch sparging.

 

[DPBISME]

I average 80-85% batch sparging.

This may sound strange but that has me worried...

I may for fun go back and plug in your numbers in the calculator... this would certainly explane my hangovers...

I just assumed that since I was new at this I would get lower numbers and it would take time for me to get it right.

 

[Kingfish]

You will get answers anywhere from 60% to 90%. There is absolutely no way to guess another's efficiency.

Your recipe and any measurements you did take would be helpful.

 

[BBL_Brewer]

As already stated, you need to measure your efficiency and adjust your software accordingly. Everyones set up and process are different and everyone gets slightly different numbers. I suspect your efficiency is higher than you anticipated since you are doing 3 sparges. Try dropping to a single batch sparge and see where that puts you. You'll get a slightly lower efficiency and it will save you a bunch of time and trouble on brew day.

 

[user 98891]

I get around 69-72% myself. Mostly because I can't crush my own grains yet.

 

[pm5k00]

i have got 65% with a 30 minute thick mash, and 96% on a thin overnight mash, both with a single sparge, so there are alot of variables at play here. we need details yo.

 

[DPBISME]

i have got 65% with a 30 minute thick mash, and 96% on a thin overnight mash, both with a single sparge, so there are alot of variables at play here. we need details yo.

Interesting.... thanks

 

[DPBISME]

You will get answers anywhere from 60% to 90%. There is absolutely no way to guess another's efficiency.

Your recipe and any measurements you did take would be helpful.

Thanks...

 

[StMarcos]

A little above 80%. Easily could hit 85% if I had a better tun.

 

[Bobby_M]

There really is no way to make an educated guess here. I mean your empirical data of getting buzzed faster than expected is better than collecting other peoples' efficiency numbers. Use your hydrometer and no guess work is required.

 

[H-ost]

+1 To what everyone else said.

You also mentioned that you are still changing your process in some way or another each time you brew. Depending on what you change, this will more than likely cause your efficiency to swing.

I was getting anywhere from 65% to 75% when I first started all-grain and, like you, I was changing my process each time to better suit how I wanted to brew. Once I got comfortable (and my own mill) I was starting to see much more consistent efficiency on brew days.

Now, for the last several batches, I have settled around 80%-83%. There are plenty of things I could do to increase my efficiency and since I know now what to expect I may try some (i.e. Conditioning my grain, double crushing my grain, overnight mashing, multiple sparges...) If I tried to do all of these before I got my process down my efficiency would be far from constant.

It matters more that you can expect what your extraction will be than to just shoot for the highest efficiency possible.

 

[Warrior]

I know this is an older thread but applies to what I've been getting lately. I've changed to doing step mashes again and have seen extremely good efficent malt sugar extraction that is getting close to what one would expect from LME. I use a three tier gravity feed system with a 20 gal HLT, 20 Gal Mash/Lauter tun with false bottom and a 30 gal BKT, all Blichmann. All kettles have a burner so the steps on the Mashtun are direct gas fire. My last three batches were as follows.

Czech Pils 24 gal finished beer
14 gals water @150 deg
42 lbs of grain 1st step @141 deg 20 mins
2nd step @155 deg 20 mins
Mash out @175 deg 10 mins

Sparge 16 1/2 gals @ 175 deg
1.057 O.G. = .00136/lb in 24 gal
= .0065/lb in 5 gal

Doppelbock 25 gal finished beer (did two mashes to make 25 gal)
thicker mash
10 gals water @150 deg
33 3/4 lbs of grain 1st step @139 deg 20 mins
2nd step @149 deg 20 mins
Mash out @175 deg 10 mins

Sparge 7 gals @ 175 deg
Two mashes
67 1/2 lbs total
34 gal water total

1.084 O.G. = .00124/lb in 25 gal
= .0062/lb in 5 gal

Ger Helles 24 gal finished beer
14 gals water @151 deg
39 lbs of grain 1st step @143 deg 20 mins
2nd step @158 deg 20 mins
Mash out @175 deg 10 mins

Sparge 16 1/2 gals @ 175 deg
1.052 O.G. = .00133/lb in 24 gal
= .0064/lb in 5 gal

I'm very happy with these results, the step infusions increased my effiecency by about 10% verses the single steps I was doing. Going to continue doing this simplified step infusion verses the steps I used to use years ago which was rest at 122, 148, 158 and mash out.

 

[bwilliamson]

I don't really have much input on this rather a question about my own efficiency.
I recently brewed my first AG batch. It's a simple Cream Ale.

7 lbs Rahr - 2 row pale
.75 lbs - Gambrinus Honey Malt
.25 lbs - Belgian Biscuit Malt


The directions said:
Sacch’ Rest: 150° F for 60 minutes
Mashout: 170° F for 10 minutes

I did this using a 5 gallon igloo cooler:
First added 10 qts water until it was at 163°
Then added all the malt.
Temp came in at 151°.
I let it sit for 60 minutes with one stir at 30 minutes.

I then drained that into the boil kettle @ 1.089
I added a little more water than before @ 165° to the mash tun, stirred it up and let it sit for another 15 minutes.

The second runnings came in at 1.023 and I had a total pre boil volume of 5 gallons.

My after boil OG was 1.044 (receipe was to be at 1.040) so not too bad.

I used an online efficency calculator which told me:
Gravity at 100% Efficiency: 1.059 - max
Gravity at 75% Efficiency: 1.044
* Efficiency: 91.37%
Points / Pound / Gallon (ppg): 33.8


Am I really getting 91+% efficiency?

 

[Indytruks138]

I am at a loss how you can be 8 batches into all grain and can't remember to use a hydrometer to measure your original gravity? If you are doing extract I can understand that, but at the all grain level testing your OG and FG should be elementary.

 

[DPBISME]

I am at a loss how you can be 8 batches into all grain and can't remember to use a hydrometer to measure your original gravity? If you are doing extract I can understand that, but at the all grain level testing your OG and FG should be elementary.

No excuse... I just am usually moving so fast, it has usually been dark by the time I am finished, and after not doing that task for 20 years,,, I forget to add it.

It still comes out beer! HA!

DPB