24 replies to this topic

[positiveContact]

I'm getting about 70-72% at best with no sparge.  this is in a standard kettle mash tun with a false bottom.  Is this pretty normal?

Edited by Zsasz, 17 May 2019 - 11:09 AM.

[denny]

yep, that's fine

[Seven]

Ditto, getting 70-73% no sparge, BIAB

[SchwanzBrewer]

Doing full volume biab so I'm not topping off with water or sparging and I estimated 80% final kettle efficiency with brewersfriend and that was spot on for all 4 brews I've done this year. I don't sparge the bag, but I let it drain well over the kettle while I heat the wort to a boil. But I built a crane to use so I wouldn't have to hold the bag.

Edited by SchwanzBrewer, 18 May 2019 - 03:08 AM.

[positiveContact]

Yeah, I'd hope the biab would help. I'm not sure how to help with wort left behind in the grain with my setup. The best thing I can do is to sparge so what's left doesn't have as much sugar in it. My mash tun doesn't have much dead space if I tip it but if the flow stops it won't fully drain (pickup tube requires a little bit of siphon). It was something I didn't anticipate when I bought it. I do like SS for cleaning and durability though.

Edited by Zsasz, 18 May 2019 - 04:49 AM.

[Stout_fan]

Your efficiency will change with OG, so can you folks please post that as well?

thanx

[positiveContact]

sorry - this was a 1.044 beer in the end.  I foolishly didn't adjust my anticipated efficiency when forming the recipe.

[SchwanzBrewer]

Yeah, I haven't done anything over 1.07. I guess my mash was still thin enough not to matter much.

[Poptop]

I BIAB with a pretty consistent 70%.  No sparge.  I'm a squeezer though

[Stout_fan]

I BIAB with a pretty consistent 70%.  No sparge.  I'm a squeezer though

Ever notice more tannin when you squeeze the bag? In extract days, I tried that once: squeezing the adjunct grain bag. Hello sun tea..

[Poptop]

Ever notice more tannin when you squeeze the bag? In extract days, I tried that once: squeezing the adjunct grain bag. Hello sun tea..

 

I cannot say that I notice more tannin.  I also don't go crazy with the process either.  I spin the bag to squeeze.  I use .09 to calculate water to grain loss so I don't have to squeeze too terribly much.

[denny]

Ever notice more tannin when you squeeze the bag? In extract days, I tried that once: squeezing the adjunct grain bag. Hello sun tea..

 

I don't.  Don't rule out confirmation bias, since everyone always told you you'd get more tannins.  These days, with so many people doing BIAB, the evidence tends to say you don't get tannins.

[HVB]

I don't.  Don't rule out confirmation bias, since everyone always told you you'd get more tannins.  These days, with so many people doing BIAB, the evidence tends to say you don't get tannins.

Same for me.  I do not squeeze it crazy but I do give it a little squeeze at the end to get to my pre-boil volume.

[denny]

Same for me.  I do not squeeze it crazy but I do give it a little squeeze at the end to get to my pre-boil volume.

 

same with hop bags, too.

[positiveContact]

same with hop bags, too.

Some people don't squeeze those? I always try to get as much out of the hops as possible. I figure that's where some of the most hoppy goodness is.

[Stout_fan]

...  I do not squeeze it crazy but I do give it a little squeeze...

Yea, and then there's the Stout_fan method. Anything worth doing is worth overdoing. Wring that sucker dry. THAT was my mistake. I could see the husk particles going  into the brew pot. Did that stop me? Hail no!

[positiveContact]

Yea, and then there's the Stout_fan method. Anything worth doing is worth overdoing. Wring that sucker dry. THAT was my mistake. I could see the husk particles going into the brew pot. Did that stop me? Hail no!

Meh, I don't think a few chunks will hurt you.

[Stout_fan]

Meh, I don't think a few chunks will hurt you.

it were more than a few!

[jayb151]

it were more than a few!

LOL!

 

I'm not doing brew in a back, but I"m doing a full volume mash in my cooler then just run it out. I honestly haven't been measuring my efficency, but the beer has been good so far.

 

I should probably measure it though...

[denny]

Yea, and then there's the Stout_fan method. Anything worth doing is worth overdoing. Wring that sucker dry. THAT was my mistake. I could see the husk particles going  into the brew pot. Did that stop me? Hail no!

 

Husk particles won't matter if your pH is in line.  Ever done a decoction mash?