Maxt
Geer bod
- Joined
- 12/7/06
- Messages
- 659
- Reaction score
- 13
Hi all, I have recently moved to the country and am having some brewing hassles.
I am using the same gear as before, (having done years of AG, getting very predictable results over many many beers), but my efficiency has dropped from 70-75% down to 55-60%.
Same crush (if anything on the fine side). Fresh grain from Craftbrewer
Same mash tun.
Same Beerbelly false bottom
Sparge..fly sparge, run off at 30L/30mins
Same thermometer (checked against 2 others, and within 1 degree)
and hydrometer (checked against another hydrometer)
Only difference is now I use tank water, which is obviously very soft.
I have been adding cal sulphate to mashes.
Checked mash ph......5.3
Today's beer I tried to eliminate one variable, so instead of fly sparging, I batch sparged (to see if channeling was a factor). No change. Still ver low eff.
Here are the stats for last 4 beers
Pre boil:
APA Predicted O.G 1.050 got 1.033 56% eff
Robust porter O.G 1.053 1.043 60%
APA O.G 1.050 1.028 50%
APA O.G 1.042 1.045 73%
WHEAT O.G 1.050 1.040 56%
Some of the beers the volume into kettle varied, and that's why for example the wheat and first APA are both 56%
So...I think I can eliminate:
Crush...very fine, fresh grain, and used a variety of types
mash ph
mash tun and false bottom
Sparge techniques
Thermometer
Hydrometer
This only leaves the water. What do you think?
I am using the same gear as before, (having done years of AG, getting very predictable results over many many beers), but my efficiency has dropped from 70-75% down to 55-60%.
Same crush (if anything on the fine side). Fresh grain from Craftbrewer
Same mash tun.
Same Beerbelly false bottom
Sparge..fly sparge, run off at 30L/30mins
Same thermometer (checked against 2 others, and within 1 degree)
and hydrometer (checked against another hydrometer)
Only difference is now I use tank water, which is obviously very soft.
I have been adding cal sulphate to mashes.
Checked mash ph......5.3
Today's beer I tried to eliminate one variable, so instead of fly sparging, I batch sparged (to see if channeling was a factor). No change. Still ver low eff.
Here are the stats for last 4 beers
Pre boil:
APA Predicted O.G 1.050 got 1.033 56% eff
Robust porter O.G 1.053 1.043 60%
APA O.G 1.050 1.028 50%
APA O.G 1.042 1.045 73%
WHEAT O.G 1.050 1.040 56%
Some of the beers the volume into kettle varied, and that's why for example the wheat and first APA are both 56%
So...I think I can eliminate:
Crush...very fine, fresh grain, and used a variety of types
mash ph
mash tun and false bottom
Sparge techniques
Thermometer
Hydrometer
This only leaves the water. What do you think?