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MacroBrew

Member
Joined
May 23, 2011
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Location
Port Clinton
Hey guys,
I have a RIMS setup and have made many different styles of beer without many problems. Except, that is, I cannot seem to get decent efficiency out of my wheat beers. My Hefeweizen was supposed to hit 1.055 OG and I only got 1.040. My Dunkelweizen was supposed to hit the same 1.055 and I only hit 1.045. They are both half wheat and half base malt recipes. the Hefe I did a single infusion at 152 and the Dunkel I did a step mash 122 for 45 min then 152 for 30.

I'm frustrated with getting 80% efficiency on everything except my wheat beers. Can someone help me? Is the only solution to add more grain to my recipe?
 
I wonder if your Ph is being effected differently by the wheat? Maybe test your ph as well to check that variable.
The other thing I've heard and read is that what malt is a smaller grain and that the mill needs to be adjusted for it. If it isn't then you might not be getting the right crush and therefore losing efficiency. Hope that helps
 
I'll look into that for my next brew. The only thing I do with my water is run it through a charcoal filter so PH might be the problem. Thanks for the quick reply, I'm looking into that 5.2 PH stuff.
 
About my crush, I ran the wheat separately because I know its harder to crush for my Dunkelweizen. I ordered pre-crushed from my LHBS for the Hefe, so I hope they did that correctly. I based my crush off of what theirs looked like.
 
Add acidulated malt, 0.1lbs = 0.1 ph decrease, wheat does not have the same acid levels as barley, I'm gonna throw out there that its most likely the acid level, an alternative would be 5.2 stabilizer, which hopefully won't turn this thread into a debate about it, it works for some not for others, for less than 50c a batch it is worth the risk to me
 

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