ok, but Narvin, I never approached 80% efficiency until the release of Bru'n Water that provided water treatment measurements for sparge in addition to mash. So in my case I truly believe that adding water treatment for the sparge, with my water, DID improve efficiency for me, since all other batch sparging BMPs have remained the same. So you know, most of my beers get a 60 minute mash, or 90 minutes for Belgians, etc. I'm going to change my process for adding phosphoric and see if I can obtain similar efficiency for every batch, of course dependent partly on the predicted OG. I'm actually glad that this beer will come in with a lower than expected ABV, it nearly being summer and all. More proof of my inconsistent thinking.
One of those moments where crunching the numbers based on predicted results, although wrong, resulted in a better outcome.
I didn't see a hugely noticeable hot break on this beer but it was a little flour-y anyway and obscured by + 12 oz. of hops (10 gal batch) through the entire boil - mostly late addition as usual!
It has to end up a good beer since a bunch is for a pal taking us ocean fishing for three days in early August. Based on the taste of the wort and the happy sounds of temp-controlled fermentation I think I'm on track.
cheers bros'!!!