Always hitting high OGs

[booldawg]

I tend to rely on Beersmith for formulating recipes. It is set to 75% mash efficiency but I always tend to overshoot the mark.

For example; the Porter I brewed this afternoon was estimated to be 1049 but ended out as 1060! I didnt undercollect wort or overdo the grain bill. Guess the answer is to notch up the efficiency in Beersmith. As I always batch sparge I'm sure I can't be hitting more than 75% efficiency. Just wondering if anyone else finds this problem?

[Jim]

How are you measuring your final brew length?

[booldawg]

I have grading marks on the side of the boiler and trial and error has taught me roughly how much I lose during the boil and to the hops. After the boil it was pretty much bang on 30L. TBH I have under-collected in the past and topped up, which I attribute to high OGs. This time I was certain I had it pretty much sorted!

[subsub]

Try formulating the recipe on paper, brew it and see what you come out with. If it's in the ballpark of what you expect then you're onto a winner. Beersmith has produced some loco figures for me in the past.

[RabMaxwell]

Hello booldawg i have always tended to have the same problem you are having with higher OG's than wanted but then have higher FG's as a result also putting my predicted bitterness in the ale of a little.I have tried alsorts over the years but still seem to get very good efficiency (stopping the sparge early ect-ect-)However i recently started batch sparging again after mainy years of sparging & have been making extreamly nice beers .I have been batch sparging with a little less water than Daabs calculator aims for & setting Promash to 79% & hitting my OG's better but still getting good malty flavours by batch sparging.I have never understood why some people get 65% efficiency & i can easily get 85% without even trying although i always try to decrease my efficiency as it defenetly makes a better beer in my opinion .

[clogwog]

I used to do the same thing as you did, and regularly got over 90% efficiency into the kettle, but I've now set my Brewhouse efficiency to about 80%.

Go into BeerSmith, and open your latest recipe. Have a look at the Original Gravity Estimate under Beer Profile, and compare that with your Measured OG into the fermenter in the box two along to the right. Then play with the Brewhouse efficiency percentage (in the box on the recipe page) until you get the two to match.
That should give you a ballpark start when you design your next recipe. Set the Brewhouse efficiency to the percentage in the box you worked out in your last recipe, and you should get close in actual performance.

And you'll make some savings on grain, or make a stronger beer. Your choice.

[Buzz]

I used to do the same thing as you did, and regularly got over 90% efficiency into the kettle, but I've now set my Brewhouse efficiency to about 80%.

Go into BeerSmith, and open your latest recipe. Have a look at the Original Gravity Estimate under Beer Profile, and compare that with your Measured OG into the fermenter in the box two along to the right. Then play with the Brewhouse efficiency percentage (in the box on the recipe page) until you get the two to match.
That should give you a ballpark start when you design your next recipe. Set the Brewhouse efficiency to the percentage in the box you worked out in your last recipe, and you should get close in actual performance.

And you'll make some savings on grain, or make a stronger beer. Your choice.

Good advice. I'm scared how accurate Beersmith is. I tend to hit the predicted OG every time, bang on.

[booldawg]

Thanks for all the advice. I had to notch up the efficiency to 90% until I hit the measured OG. I bet I'll end up with a woefully low ABV on my next brew!

[Whorst]

I've never used beersmith, or any beer software. I use this: http://www.tastybrew.com/calculators/recipe.html
There are things it won't tell you, but it works for me. I always get a consistent 60% mash efficiency, which is ok.
Give it a shot. It's good for experimenting with recipes.

[MartialAnt]

MY past few brews have hit high OG's (top 60's low 70's). Had to water them down before pitching so there drinkable.
My sparging consists of tipping my 80c water into the mash tun then letting it run out into an FV. I do this quite a few times or until my strainer gets blocked . Is my efficiency too high? I thought getting as close to 100% would be a good thing.
Is the Martial sparge a bad thing? Will this cause lots of bad sh*t to get into my wort? Thinking about it, my AG #5 did have a lot of protein trub stuff. Just below the 3 gallon line, but settled down to less than 2 inches.

On the subject of sparging, another question with my WGV/Fuggles brew. My sparge water was too hot. Near boiling instead of 80c. Would that be the cause of a pongy vinegar smell? Its not off as its drinkable. There is a very slight whiff of vinegar now. I'll sup it i dont mind but i think everyone else will pass on it.