[Steve L]

I know I'm probably going to get a speech about not 'living by the software" but I have a question. Here recently I've been fine tuning my efficiency and crush. Today's batch (ESB) I collected for a 2.5 gallon batch, 4.35 gallons of wort preboil @ 1.042 after mashing 5.5 pounds of grain mashed  for 70 minutes then batch sparged.

My beersmith equipment profile has a total efficiency of 72%. with an estimated mash efficiency of 86.4%. Well, I think I have dialed in my system because todays measured efficiency was about 86.2%. I'm happy all around as I also hit all of my estimated gravity and volume amounts.

My question is about the "Measured Efficiency" amount. Today I got 111%. I don't understand this amount.
Any input is greatly appreciated.

[morticaixavier]

your measurements are off somewhere.

post the recipe and we can try to figure out where.

[denny]

Usually, you only get over 100% efficiency when you use a blue cooler. 

[bluesman]

Please post your complete recipe with recipe detail and notes. This will allow us to better instruct you going forward. Aside from Denny ...there's no possible way for anyone to get >100% efficiency in any brewing process. Have you calibrated your thermometer and hydrometer, as well as your weight scale?

[Steve L]

I think I have found at least part of the problem. I hadn't yet entered my post boil OG and measured batch size. I'm still whirlpooling at this point but my measured OG is 1.055. missed my OG by 5 points, I did a 90 minute boil and I think I may have to adjust my boil off rate. Had about 1.5 - 2 quarts more wort than I expected. I probably should have boiled it down a bit more but oh well. Anyway...

After entering my OG and measured batch size I got a measured efficiency of about 67%. Still not quite sure what this number means to my brewing.

ESB
2.5 gallon batch:
OG 1.060 (Actual OG measured 1.055)
35 IBU
SRM 10
90 minute boil

Warminster maris oter 5 pounds
UK med crystal 60L .5 pounds
Target - .34oz 60 min
Challenger - .24oz  5 min
Northdown - .24   5 min
Goldings -  .05   5 min

Mash @ 152 70 minutes 1.5 qt/pound
batch sparge w/3 gallons

Water vol
4.25 gal wort collected
1.13 gal boil off
.12 gal cooling shrinkage
3 gal final volumre
equipment loss .5 gallon

2.5 gallons for fermenter

Measured mash efficiency: 86%
Measured Brewhouse efficiency: 67%
Total efficiency as set in my equipment profile: 72%

[kramerog]

Brewhouse efficiency is your efficiency of converting starting ingredients into wort.

[morticaixavier]

I think I have found at least part of the problem. I hadn't yet entered my post boil OG and measured batch size. I'm still whirlpooling at this point but my measured OG is 1.055. missed my OG by 5 points, I did a 90 minute boil and I think I may have to adjust my boil off rate. Had about 1.5 - 2 quarts more wort than I expected. I probably should have boiled it down a bit more but oh well. Anyway...

After entering my OG and measured batch size I got a measured efficiency of about 67%. Still not quite sure what this number means to my brewing.

ESB
2.5 gallon batch:
OG 1.060 (Actual OG measured 1.055)
35 IBU
SRM 10
90 minute boil

Warminster maris oter 5 pounds
UK med crystal 60L .5 pounds
Target - .34oz 60 min
Challenger - .24oz  5 min
Northdown - .24   5 min
Goldings -  .05   5 min

Mash @ 152 70 minutes 1.5 qt/pound
batch sparge w/3 gallons

Water vol
4.25 gal wort collected
1.13 gal boil off
.12 gal cooling shrinkage
3 gal final volumre
equipment loss .5 gallon

2.5 gallons for fermenter

Measured mash efficiency: 86%
Measured Brewhouse efficiency: 67%
Total efficiency as set in my equipment profile: 72%

This means (assuming your weights and measures are correct) that you converted 86% of the theoretical maximum available starch into sugars in your mash. then you collected ~77% of that into your kettle.

your mash efficiency is 86%
your lauter efficiency is 77%
your total brewhouse efficiency is 67%

[Steve L]

cool thanks for the info. I've been brewing for about a year or so and I'm constantly running into things I don't know. Probably be like this for awhile.

[morticaixavier]

cool thanks for the info. I've been brewing for about a year or so and I'm constantly running into things I don't know. Probably be like this for awhile.

that's a goodly chunk of the fun in my mind. I've been at it for ~7 years and i'm STILL running into things I don't know. And that's just about brewing!

[HoosierBrew]

cool thanks for the info. I've been brewing for about a year or so and I'm constantly running into things I don't know. Probably be like this for awhile.

that's a goodly chunk of the fun in my mind. I've been at it for ~7 years and i'm STILL running into things I don't know. And that's just about brewing!

+1.  Learning constantly.

[a10t2]

This means (assuming your weights and measures are correct) that you converted 86% of the theoretical maximum available starch into sugars in your mash. then you collected ~77% of that into your kettle.

I don't think that's correct, based on what's been posted. With mash efficiency in the 80s, conversion efficiency was probably very nearly 100%, and lauter efficiency in the 80s. The knockout efficiency (is that what you'd call it?) is 2.5/3.0 = 83%, which is what drops the brewhouse efficiency.

Although 86% * 83% = ~71%, so even the numbers that Beersmith is giving don't seem consistent to me. But the bottom line is that your mash efficiency is normal.

[morticaixavier]

This means (assuming your weights and measures are correct) that you converted 86% of the theoretical maximum available starch into sugars in your mash. then you collected ~77% of that into your kettle.

I don't think that's correct, based on what's been posted. With mash efficiency in the 80s, conversion efficiency was probably very nearly 100%, and lauter efficiency in the 80s. The knockout efficiency (is that what you'd call it?) is 2.5/3.0 = 83%, which is what drops the brewhouse efficiency.

Although 86% * 83% = ~71%, so even the numbers that Beersmith is giving don't seem consistent to me. But the bottom line is that your mash efficiency is normal.

I am very likely wrong and sean is very likely correct. So what's the difference between mash efficiency and conversion efficiency? I was under the impression they were the same thing.

[a10t2]

Mash efficiency = conversion efficiency * lauter efficiency

Or at least that's how I usually hear the terms used.