Mash Efficiency

[Limey]

I tend to build my own reipes using the recipe function here. Often they are based on other recipes but modified to suit my ingredients and taste. That said, I have found the recipe builder to be pretty accurate at determining pre-boil gravity, O.G. and ABV with the provision that you "tweak" the efficiency number to suit your system. I found that after I had made three or four recipes I could set my efficiency and get numbers that are pretty close! YMMV.

 

[Bigbre04]

Thanks everyone. Super helpful. Connecting some of these dots is what I was missing. Leaning too much on other's recipes seems to be much of the issue. I have the beer styles judges book and will look to brew to the style and use the software to get me there. Seems like a 60 min mash should be sufficient most of the time and waiting for the negative iodine test probably threw me off this time.

And yes I added a gallon to 7.3 gallons of wort so I brought my IBU's down a bit.

I search the style and try to find a bunch of verified(high quality) recipes and go from there. there are frequently a bunch of different opinions on how to achieve the same style so i try to meet it in the middle.

@Limey the software is good, i am just pushing my system to its limits so my boil off is lower then it should be. I usually hit my target OG, but i have yet to dig in and figure out how to adjust the preboil to match the OG.

 

[Josh Hughes]

I didn’t read it all so I may be repeating something.

I put the amount a recipe says into the calculator on here. Then adjust to the OG the recipe says.

You probably know your efficiency within a few percentage points either way based on the size of the batch and amount of grain.

A double crush from whoever you buy from or crushing your own will be a better efficiency. I also save a gallon of water for the end to correct OG if needed.

 

[Brew Cat]

Thanks everyone. Super helpful. Connecting some of these dots is what I was missing. Leaning too much on other's recipes seems to be much of the issue. I have the beer styles judges book and will look to brew to the style and use the software to get me there. Seems like a 60 min mash should be sufficient most of the time and waiting for the negative iodine test probably threw me off this time.

And yes I added a gallon to 7.3 gallons of wort so I brought my IBU's down a bit.

Being low and have to add DME keeping the volume theoretically is better
But at the end of the day doesn't really matter
I brew for myself and can care less about comps
I very rarely adjust and if I'm adding water it's more to get my target volume

 

[Mike at Bay]

I am printing all this advice.

 

[Mike at Bay]

ZIZ

I didn’t read it all so I may be repeating something.

I put the amount a recipe says into the calculator on here. Then adjust to the OG the recipe says.

You probably know your efficiency within a few percentage points either way based on the size of the batch and amount of grain.

A double crush from whoever you buy from or crushing your own will be a better efficiency. I also save a gallon of water for the end to correct OG if needed

Yes, I crush my own....twice.

 

[Bigbre04]

I am printing all this advice.

telling us your age without saying it....i like it!

 

[Mike at Bay]

telling us your age without saying it....i like it!

Funny.....

 

[Sandy Feet]

You get used to whatever mash you decide on too.
My 60 minutes weren't great a couple of times, so I decided to go 70. It worked once, and it stuck. After a little, you just develop a comfort level with what you do.

 

[Bigbre04]

Funny.....

dont forget to tear off the sides of the paper! lol

 

[Brew Cat]

dont forget to tear off the sides of the paper! lol

I loved pin feed paper
No loose sheets to mix up
How do you remember that kid

 

[Brew Cat]

Actually I think he uses one of these

 

[Mike at Bay]

Actually I think he uses one of these
View attachment 35011

OK gang......My point was simply that your comments were worth printing. At 64 I will be lucky if I remember to print them.

 

[Brew Cat]

64 huh
Just wait
Congratulations on retirement

 

[Donoroto]

OK gang......My point was simply that your comments were worth printing. At 64 I will be lucky if I remember to print them.

tl;dr
I vote to use less grain and mash until iodine says it is done. Ending sooner is a waste of good malt.

Then (key point!) adjust your efficiency to your actual results.

My efficiency varies by style, but is fairly consistent (plus or minus 5% or so) between same-style beers. It took a few batches to find the average.