Super-low efficiency...

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owatts

Super-low efficiency...

Post by owatts » Mon Sep 29, 2014 9:55 pm

Currently puzzling with an odd puzzle from my last two BIAB brews. Very low efficiency.

Both had 75L of water in a conical pot with approx 11kg of grain.

Both ended with an OG of around 1.035. Calculated was around 1.048-1.050.

Unsure what could have caused this. Any thoughts or ideas?

Rookie
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Re: Super-low efficiency...

Post by Rookie » Thu Oct 02, 2014 12:25 am

The grain crush can effect the O G. I went from 59% to 67% by running the grains through my mill a second time.
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killer
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Re: Super-low efficiency...

Post by killer » Thu Oct 02, 2014 11:06 pm

What volume did you end with and what was the calculated efficiency ?

The usual suspects....

hydrometer calibration
temp of wort when you took the measurement
stratification of the wort when you took the measurement (I've has this a few times)
misweighing the grain

RobWalker

Re: Super-low efficiency...

Post by RobWalker » Wed Oct 08, 2014 4:39 pm

is your thermometer buggered?

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Jocky
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Re: Super-low efficiency...

Post by Jocky » Thu Oct 09, 2014 8:44 am

What was different in these batches from every batch before?

New technique or new ingredient? Could be ropey grain or a bad crush if it's a new bag of grain.

Did you raise the temperature at the end of the mash and give it a good slosh around to rinse out the sugars?
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owatts

Re: Super-low efficiency...

Post by owatts » Mon Oct 27, 2014 8:34 pm

Hey guys - sorry, just saw all your kind replies.

I suspect it is the crush. This time I performed a 'pseudo-sparse' by recirc-ing the wort through the bag, and jiggling the bag around in the kettle before pulling it.

I also shook up the bag of malt before using it (I'm using a 25kg sack) and got a lot more floury particles which I suspect are easier to convert into beautiful malty sugar.

Got 55% efficiency this time.

Cheers!

EoinMag

Re: Super-low efficiency...

Post by EoinMag » Mon Nov 10, 2014 4:46 pm

55% efficiency is also piss poor to be honest, you are describing my mash sizes and I get between 70 and 85% efficiency depending mostly on the grain source.....

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