How Did This Happen?

[BenH]

Hi all,

Brewed my 12th AG on the weekend, and something unusual happened... I "apparently" got over 100% :blink: efficiency into the kettle. My usual efficiency into kettle is more like 80% (and has been that way for the past 5 brews).

5.2kg JW Pilsener
0.05kg Bairds Chocolate
Mashed at 66 deg with 15L
Mashout (only got to 74 deg) with 8L

I collected 31L at 1.053. After kettle boil off, I'm left with an OG 1.065 when my target was 1.048

No doubt this would have played havoc with my IBU calcs, which were based on 80% efficiency.

I've been trying to work out how this happened. Any ideas?

Cheers, BenH.

 

[razz]

Temp of the gravity readings most likely to hot

 

[blackbock]

Brewed my 12th AG on the weekend, and something unusual happened... I "apparently" got over 100% :blink:

BenH

I have no idea how that is possible, but feel free to come around to my place anytime and show me how you did it!

 

[Dr Gonzo]

Did you weigh the grain, or buy it weighed and crushed?

 

[Pumpy]

Was the grain quite what you thought it was ?

Pumpy :unsure:

 

[Guest Lurker]

When I get a sudden spike in my efficiency I know that means I was either talking or drinking while weighing out the base malt.

 

[Darren]

Did the Guru of the North come over and bless your grain?

just a thought.

cheers

Darren

 

[Tony]

whenever i have had big spiles or drops in efficiency its usually been a base grain weighing problem

try adding a KG to the recipe in your software and see if the numbers line up then

cheers

 

[BenH]

whenever i have had big spiles or drops in efficiency its usually been a base grain weighing problem

try adding a KG to the recipe in your software and see if the numbers line up then

cheers

Thanks for the thoughts guys, yeah, I've been thinking that maybe the base malt weight wasn't right. I bought it crushed from my LHBS (haven't received my BarleyCrusher yet), but didn't double-check the weight before dough-in.

I use a refractometer to do my readings, and the samples were definitely cool when I took the reading.

However, if it turns out that I get over 100% efficiency again :blink: I'll be sure to let you know!