Extraction or mash efficiency - the percentage of actual sugars extracted from the grain compared to the theoretical maximum.
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1answer
92 views
How can I fix low starting gravity?
I made my third all-grain batch last weekend. I have had issues getting decent efficiency so I added a couple extra pounds of ESB malted barley (11lbs, instead of 9, and about 3lbs of specialty ...
1
vote
2answers
84 views
Is it Possible to Collect Too Much Volume From Mash Tun?
I'm still new to the all-grain scene and I've messed up my sparge more than once, leaving me with a pre-boil gravity that is too low. I got to thinking, if I fall short (in pre-boil gravity) in the ...
5
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4answers
789 views
Mash Efficiency vs Brewhouse Efficiency
I'm trying to understand the difference between Mash Efficiency and Brewhouse Efficiency.
Is Brewhouse Efficiency essentially the efficiency of Mashing AND Lautering, whereas Mash efficiency would be ...
3
votes
1answer
137 views
How does efficiency change when adding grains that are normally steeped to a mash?
Imagine this scenario: you have a an extract recipe that contains a pound of steeped caramel malt. According to http://www.promash.com/FAQ/faq_diff.html the average efficiency of steeped malts is ...
3
votes
7answers
4k views
Why is my starting gravity low?
In the fall of 2011 I made the leap from extract/partial kits to all-grain kits. I'm enjoying AG, but my SG is continuously below the expected. I have brewed 5 AG kits and 4 have had a low SG.
My ...
3
votes
2answers
434 views
BIAB efficiency
I have been doing some batch sparging with the Denny Conn method, and it works great! I also wanted to try, in the days that I want a slightly shorter brew day or a smaller experimental recipe, a ...
5
votes
2answers
142 views
Mash Efficiency and Quality of Wort
I recently achieved a 94% mash efficiency on a batch of Saison and was pretty stoked thinking, wow, 94% is much better than the the 72% I did last time. I must be getting better at this...
But then ...
6
votes
2answers
521 views
How can I raise my mash pH with something other than chalk or baking soda?
I recently moved to Rhode Island and my mash efficiency has suffered. The main part of my process that has changed is the water. The pH as measured by colorpHast strips (and two other off brands) ...
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1answer
149 views
Mash Efficiency With Top Off
I just put my second AG batch into the primary, but I ran into an issue I need some help with.
When I did my first AG batch, I used water that was treated by a water softener (I know, I know...it was ...
4
votes
1answer
621 views
What Calcium ppm is required in the mash for alpha-amylase stability and mash efficiency?
I recently moved and my water here is quite soft with a very low pH. As such, I've taken to adding many of my brewing salts in the brew kettle and only using salts in the mash to balance the pH.
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2
votes
2answers
304 views
How do I calculate mash efficiency with BeerSmith2 when doing a partigyle?
I designed a barleywine in BeerSmith2, made it, plus I made another beer afterwords from the same grain. My mash efficiency on the first runnings turned out to be 75% (I put the grain bill and ...
6
votes
4answers
1k views
What are some methods to increase extraction efficiency and consistency?
I've got some irregular sugar extraction efficiency problems. My efficiency is regularly low. I need your help. :) I get anywhere from 60% - 85%.
I've fine tuned my mill to the best of my ability, so ...
3
votes
2answers
444 views
fly sparging - stopping and efficiency
For the few years I've been brewing AG, I've used batch sparging with a 70qt cooler. But this year I've built a new brewery which is equipped for fly sparging, so I'm trying that.
With fly sparging, ...
9
votes
5answers
524 views
Shorter Brew Day
For all grain brewers, what part of the brew session lends itself best to shortening the total brew session. Time is tight for me these days and shortening up the brew session a bit will certainly ...
6
votes
3answers
386 views
Does a smaller false-bottom affect efficiency?
Last night I picked up a 10-gallon cooler mash tun. It was supposed to come with a 12" false bottom, but the LHBS was out of those. Instead they offered me a 10" false bottom, saying that it would ...
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vote
1answer
616 views
First All Grain Batch / LOW Efficiency
Yesterday I went down to my homebrew retailer, planning on buying a simple screen/valve assembly for a cooler. No go. He didn't have any of THOSE left, however he did have an assembly to use an ...
6
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1answer
156 views
What is conversion?
While answering another question, about mash temperature, the question about conversion and how long it takes came up.
So what is conversion? I think we all know its the process of enzymes converting ...
4
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3answers
1k views
Are Sparge Arms Necessary
Do you really need a sprinkler of some sort to sparge?
Does it really improve the lautering process?
How fancy does a sparge arm need to be, does it really have to rotate or can it just sprinkle all ...
