[bigpete225]

So I’ve been plagued by low efficiency... Low to mid 60%... at this point I’m pretty sure it’s due to the crush of grains from my LHBS.  Their mill is self-serve, but locked at .04.  Does anyone have any ideas to get a little more crush on the grain to try and boost efficiency? I was thinking about taking a portion of the grain bill (half?) and giving it a quick pulse in the Ninja blender. Obviously I don’t want to make flour, but just enough to beat it up a little more.

Does anyone have any thought on this or other ideas?  I’ll be investing in a grain mill soon and will have more control over my crush, but until SWMBO let’s me drop the cash I have to work with what I have.

Thanks!


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[ynotbrusum]

Double crush it at the LHBS...it may help.

Cheers

[dmtaylor]

I used to "crush" 100% of my malt in a blender when I didn't have my own mill.  It worked great, got normal efficiency in the mid 70s.  Just do about 3/4 cup at a time or else only the bottom 2 inches will turn to flour but the rest will sit still.  You need to strike a balance with this method between most of it flying all over the place and most of it sitting still.  You want to figure out what amount is kind of halfway in between, then do that repeatedly.  Only pulse for 5-10 seconds, that should be all you need.

[Robert]

Double crush it at the LHBS...it may help.

Cheers

+1

[charlie]

So I’ve been plagued by low efficiency... Low to mid 60%... at this point I’m pretty sure it’s due to the crush of grains from my LHBS.

It could be something other than efficiency.

At one time I thought I was getting 85% efficiency (which is insanely high), but I wasn't accounting for the shrinkage in volume when the wort was cooled from boiling to 68F (about 4%).

First thing is to check all of your volumes, and be sure to look at your dead volumes (wort remaining in the BK and wort chiller). Factor in your losses (and gains) due to the wort's temperature. If you're making more wort than your accounting for then your efficiency will be artificially low.

Charlie

[hopfenundmalz]

My short term solution is to add more grain.

I used to try and get high efficiency. Now I don't stress over it. I'm about 65-70% now, and I don't lose any sleep.

[hopfenundmalz]

My short term solution is to add more grain.

I used to try and get high efficiency. Now I don't stress over it. I'm about 65-70% now, and I don't lose any sleep.

[dmtaylor]

My short term solution is to add more grain.

I used to try and get high efficiency. Now I don't stress over it. I'm about 65-70% now, and I don't lose any sleep.

Excellent point.  I don't disagree.

[soymateofeo]

+1 on add more grain.  I had the same problem. I just know that I will get 65-70% efficiency.  I target the high end of the style OG, add grain for 70% and either hit it dead on or come to a lower og still in the style.  But i hit it dead on most of the time now. I would rather have consistency then  high efficiency

[BrewBama]

... I would rather have consistency...

This is what I’ve come to realize. I can reliably predict my system’s efficiency so I can plan accordingly to hit a specific OG.


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[bigpete225]

Thanks for the advice. Did a double crush at LHBS as well as double batch sparge on a Munich Dunkel the other day and got nearly 70%. 


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[goose]

Thanks for the advice. Did a double crush at LHBS as well as double batch sparge on a Munich Dunkel the other day and got nearly 70%. 


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Excellent!  Glad that worked for you.

[Lazy Ant Brewing]

My short term solution is to add more grain.

I used to try and get high efficiency. Now I don't stress over it. I'm about 65-70% now, and I don't lose any sleep.

+1

I get 71% repeatedly and I'm happy with it.

[MerlinBrewer]

How log do you store the crushed grain? After milling it tends to degrade. Use it within 4 weeks.

[dmtaylor]

How log do you store the crushed grain? After milling it tends to degrade. Use it within 4 weeks.

I don't believe aging hurts efficiency much if at all.  However, it will add a stale oxidized flavor.