Mash/sparge efficiency calculation

[jubby]

Can someone give me the formula for calculating mash/sparge efficiency please. I know it's here somewhere, but I can't find it.

Thanks.

[Calum]

I have a spreadsheet with all the calculations. PM me with your email address if you fancy a copy.

[clogwog]

Here you go, if you can be bothered to do it manually and the hard way. Sorry, I only work in metrics, I can't do the imperial maths for you.
I just use the BeerSmith software program, which does all the hard work for me.

How it works is all malts and adjuncts etc give a different gravity.
The specs are all written as H.W.E which is hot water extract with sugar being the highest at 386 so everything else is given as a % of that. ie, pale malt is around 81% which gives you around 309. this is the total gravity you can get with 1 kilo in 1 litre but it is impossible to get this, this is 100% effeincy.
the same goes for american calcs but its in P.P.G which is the gravity of 1 pound in 1 gallon. The same specs are used ie. 81% for pale malt gives you 37 points of gravity.

So a simple example to work out total potential for 5 kg of pale malt in 23 litres is
5 x 309 / 23 = 67 (1.067)

Now, to work out your effiency, you divide the gravity you got with this brew. Say you got 1.050 so 50/67 =.74 you got 74% effiency.
Then next time when you do the calc. 5 x 309 /23 =you simply times this by .74 .
This gives you your expected gravity,

For your first batches i would stick to using 60-65%.
So do the 5 x 309/ 23 = 67.
Then times 67 by .65 = 43(1.043)

P.S. The hwe numbers are all on the malt craft site other malts like crystal malt are around 75% some malts can be lower and some higher.
to get the number times 386 by the percent as a decimal point ie pale malt at 81% gives you 386 x .81 =312

Ale -------81% X 386 = 312
Pilsner----------------81%
Hoepfner Munich----80% 308
Melanoiden--------- -80%
Caramalt pils---------79% 305
Crystal---------------- 75%

Well, it's the method you will see in Australia.

Say the HWE is 308 litre degrees per kilogram for a malt.
That means 5kg in 20L will give you : (308 x 5)/20 = 77. i.e. 1.077 SG at 100% efficiency. Multiply that by your efficiency (eg. 75%) gives you 77 x 0.75 = 57.75 or close enough to 1.058.

[jubby]

Calum, Clogwog, thanks for the info.

[hoppingMad]

Hi Jubby,

if you think you are the type who might learn to use a brewing software programme, I can recommend BeerTools www.beertools.com
I'm no Einstein and it took me a short time to learn it and I love using it.
Sure software is not completely necessary, but then neither are brewing forums
But just a lot of fun.

[jubby]

Thanks hM. I have a Mac computer, so I have downloaded beer alchemy which is very impressive. It's a bit too much information for me at the moment as I brew from recipe's, but if i start to make my own beers in the future it will be just the job.