Membership questions? Log in issues? Email info@brewersassociation.org

Author Topic: Lower brewhouse efficiency  (Read 2459 times)

Offline hazefodaze29

  • Cellarman
  • **
  • Posts: 27
Lower brewhouse efficiency
« on: December 10, 2016, 02:47:36 pm »
Hey everyone,

So I had what was a relatively uneventful brew day (or so I thought) until I checked my gravity prior to pitching yeast. I was expecting something around 1.066 or a little higher. Instead, I got 1.059. Here is the break down of how it all went.

Grains
12lbs 2 row
1lbs flaked oats
1lbs flaked wheat
.5lbs Crystal 40

Mashed at 154 with 4.75 gallons of water (water temp 170 degrees)
Fly sparged 6.50 gallons ( water temp 170-ish degrees)

Added a total of 7 ounces between boil/flameout/whirlpool
Boil volume at start was around 8.1 gallons.
Ended up with 5 gallons in the fermenter.

Its funny because this is my 4th all grain batch and my very first one over the summer was only off by 2 gravity points going into fermentation. Any and all help/advice/suggestions are greatly appreciated. For all 4 batches I have fly sparged. I may take a stab at a gose in a couple weeks... at least those are supposed to be lower ABV! Thank you in advanced.

Offline chinaski

  • Brewmaster
  • *****
  • Posts: 570
Re: Lower brewhouse efficiency
« Reply #1 on: December 10, 2016, 03:24:54 pm »
Most likely culprit is grain milling.  If you don't own a mill, then inconsistency in the crush might explain it.
Maybe Santa will bring you one!

Offline beersk

  • Official Poobah of No Life. (I Got Ban Hammered by Drew)
  • *********
  • Posts: 3721
  • In the night!
Re: Lower brewhouse efficiency
« Reply #2 on: December 10, 2016, 03:55:24 pm »
Sounds like you boiled off a ridiculous amount unless you left like 2 gallons behind in the kettle. Something isn't right there. If there was a bunch left then I'd say you over sparged and that watered down your wort and that's why your gravity was low.
Jesse

Offline hazefodaze29

  • Cellarman
  • **
  • Posts: 27
Re: Lower brewhouse efficiency
« Reply #3 on: December 11, 2016, 06:59:14 am »
I mill at my lhbs. However, will be getting my own mill just in time for christmas. As for the volume numbers, I do agree it needs to be looked at. My preboil gravity was off by I believe 3 or 4 points. I didn't think that number would become greater as wort would be boiled off? I am trying to dial in exact volume numbers as I upgraded to a 10 gal kettle recently. I feel like every calculator gives you a different number when it comes to strike water and sparge water (volumes).

Offline a10t2

  • Official Poobah of No Life. (I Got Ban Hammered by Drew)
  • *********
  • Posts: 4696
  • Ask me why I don't like Chico!
    • SeanTerrill.com
Re: Lower brewhouse efficiency
« Reply #4 on: December 11, 2016, 08:10:30 am »
What was the pre-boil gravity? Yes, it will increase throughout the boil as water evaporates. What was the post-boil volume?
Sent from my Microsoft Bob

Beer is like porn. You can buy it, but it's more fun to make your own.
Refractometer Calculator | Batch Sparging Calculator | Two Mile Brewing Co.

Offline lenphallock

  • Cellarman
  • **
  • Posts: 60
Lower brewhouse efficiency
« Reply #5 on: December 11, 2016, 08:20:59 am »
I would measure what you are leaving behind in the kettle. I leave extra behind in my kettle for the sake of clearer wort in the FV. I throw pellet hops in the boil loose and collect around 8.5 gallons pre boil. I will do a little more or less depending on hopping amount. I end up with 6 gallons in FV after 90 minute boil. I leave about a gallon sludge in the kettle. Hope that helps. 


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Offline hazefodaze29

  • Cellarman
  • **
  • Posts: 27
Re: Lower brewhouse efficiency
« Reply #6 on: December 12, 2016, 03:37:46 pm »
Pre boil gravity was around 1.050
Gravity going into the fermentor was 1.059
Preboil volume was around 8.1 gallons and I ended with 5 gallons going in the bucket. I left behind a good slurry of hops at the end of the kettle. The boil was for 70 minutes. I usually boil for 60, but once I realized my preboil gravity was off, I thought I would try to compensate by boiling for 10 more minutes.

Offline a10t2

  • Official Poobah of No Life. (I Got Ban Hammered by Drew)
  • *********
  • Posts: 4696
  • Ask me why I don't like Chico!
    • SeanTerrill.com
Re: Lower brewhouse efficiency
« Reply #7 on: December 13, 2016, 10:50:40 am »
Pre boil gravity was around 1.050
Gravity going into the fermentor was 1.059
Preboil volume was around 8.1 gallons

Assuming those numbers are correct, your post-boil volume was ~6.9 gal, and the problem is simply starting with too much wort in the kettle. If the recipe you're brewing is based on a 5 gal volume, then you need to start with ~6.2 gal to boil down to that (based on 1.2 gal boiloff for this batch).
Sent from my Microsoft Bob

Beer is like porn. You can buy it, but it's more fun to make your own.
Refractometer Calculator | Batch Sparging Calculator | Two Mile Brewing Co.

Offline denny

  • Administrator
  • Retired with too much time on my hands
  • *****
  • Posts: 27093
  • Noti OR [1991.4, 287.6deg] AR
    • Dennybrew
Re: Lower brewhouse efficiency
« Reply #8 on: December 13, 2016, 11:27:57 am »
Pre boil gravity was around 1.050
Gravity going into the fermentor was 1.059
Preboil volume was around 8.1 gallons

Assuming those numbers are correct, your post-boil volume was ~6.9 gal, and the problem is simply starting with too much wort in the kettle. If the recipe you're brewing is based on a 5 gal volume, then you need to start with ~6.2 gal to boil down to that (based on 1.2 gal boiloff for this batch).

Which will lower your efficiency by collecting less wort.  Round and round we go....
Life begins at 60.....1.060, that is!

www.dennybrew.com

The best, sharpest, funniest, weirdest and most knowledgable minds in home brewing contribute on the AHA forum. - Alewyfe

"The whole problem with the world is that fools and fanatics are always so certain of themselves, and wiser people so full of doubts." - Bertrand Russell

Offline a10t2

  • Official Poobah of No Life. (I Got Ban Hammered by Drew)
  • *********
  • Posts: 4696
  • Ask me why I don't like Chico!
    • SeanTerrill.com
Re: Lower brewhouse efficiency
« Reply #9 on: December 13, 2016, 11:45:47 am »
Which will lower your efficiency by collecting less wort.  Round and round we go....

True, but probably not by a significant amount on a moderate-gravity beer.
Sent from my Microsoft Bob

Beer is like porn. You can buy it, but it's more fun to make your own.
Refractometer Calculator | Batch Sparging Calculator | Two Mile Brewing Co.

Offline denny

  • Administrator
  • Retired with too much time on my hands
  • *****
  • Posts: 27093
  • Noti OR [1991.4, 287.6deg] AR
    • Dennybrew
Re: Lower brewhouse efficiency
« Reply #10 on: December 13, 2016, 12:15:05 pm »
Which will lower your efficiency by collecting less wort.  Round and round we go....

True, but probably not by a significant amount on a moderate-gravity beer.

Indeed
Life begins at 60.....1.060, that is!

www.dennybrew.com

The best, sharpest, funniest, weirdest and most knowledgable minds in home brewing contribute on the AHA forum. - Alewyfe

"The whole problem with the world is that fools and fanatics are always so certain of themselves, and wiser people so full of doubts." - Bertrand Russell