Efficiency question

[Shady Lane Brewing]

OK, I'm bad at math, so forgive me in advance. I used the Brewer's Friend efficiency calculator to figure out my first brew on a new system. I used 11 pounds of Maris Otter and 1 pound of British Crystal Dark 80L and had an OG of 1.062. That got me an 85% efficiency, which I'm very happy with. I can scale back my future recipes to handle that efficiency. Anyway, in my BF recipe, there's a box for Brewhouse efficiency. When I type in 85%, the predicted numbers are waaaaaaay out of whack with what I saw on brew day-- it says my OG should be 1.077 with an ABV of 8.1%. That would be an imperial Extra Special Bitter, and I don't think that's a thing. When I change the efficiency in my recipe to 70%, the numbers are in line with my OG. Can someone explain the discrepancy to me? Is the efficiency I calculated and the efficiency box reflective of two different things? Call me confused.

 

[Minbari]

How did you get 85%? If i get high 70s, i am more than happy, lol

 

[Donoroto]

There are different efficiencies. Mash efficiency is different from brewhouse efficiency. Pretty sure the recipe tool uses brewhouse.

How did you calculate 85%?

 

[Shady Lane Brewing]

There are different efficiencies. Mash efficiency is different from brewhouse efficiency. Pretty sure the recipe tool uses brewhouse.

How did you calculate 85%?

I used this calculator from Brewer's Friend: https://www.brewersfriend.com/brewhouse-efficiency/

I typed in my ingredients, water amount and Original Gravity. It calculated my gravity at 85%. I leave open the possibility that I did something wrong!

 

[Shady Lane Brewing]

I mean it calculated my brewhouse efficiency at 85%.

 

[Donoroto]

Yeah, something is wonky there. The Maximum theoretical OG at 100% efficiency is 1.069 using 12 pounds and 6.5 gallons. 1.062 is 85%, but that seems awfully high. I cannot explain it.

 

[Shady Lane Brewing]

Me either. Hopefully someone can.

 

[Donoroto]

@Yooper might have sone insight

 

[Ward Chillington]

Here's a starter for you...

https://www.brewersfriend.com/brewing-efficiency-chart/

Rigs and processes vary. Target OG is that potential of your grains sugar extraction that's only as good as the spec sheet for it so don't fret over a minor delta..you are better off considering the OG as what where you are starting from AFTER you've brewed and not what the recipe says. You didn't fail....it's just different! It's home brewing good grief....relax, do what Charlie says....

 

[Shady Lane Brewing]

Here's a starter for you...

https://www.brewersfriend.com/brewing-efficiency-chart/

Rigs and processes vary. Target OG is that potential of your grains sugar extraction that's only as good as the spec sheet for it so don't fret over a minor delta..you are better off considering the OG as what where you are starting from AFTER you've brewed and not what the recipe says. You didn't fail....it's just different! It's home brewing good grief....relax, do what Charlie says....

I’m OK with how everything turned out. Im also confused. I think both things can be true.

 

[BarbarianBrewer]

It calculated Brewhouse Efficiency based on your inputs. Could there be a data entry or measurement error?

Efficiency is something you dial-in over time. Every brewer will have their own efficiency based on their equipment and processes and even the recipe itself. With each brew your efficiency will get more accurate. There are settings in the Equipment Profile that will affect efficiency, such as boil-off rate and dead-space in your mash tun/kettle.

You can change the efficiency on an existing recipe by using the Scale tool in the recipe builder to adjust your recipe to a different efficiency