Cedar Rapids Brewing Society

A question for you all-grain brewers. What sort of lauter efficiencies do you typically get?

I'm on my 5th or 6th batch since switching to fly sparging and have had trouble dialing in the efficiency. On the bright side, it's usually too high (90% today), but it would be nice to have a predictable number.

I fly sparge with a keggle also. I usually get about 80%. I've been trying out a SS false bottom this year with mixed results though. I might build a new copper manifold instead.

Do you recirculate during your mash? I think that would be bringing your numbers up. You might want to stir it once half way through to make sure everything is getting washed. That might even out your efficiency.

One of these times I'd like to make it over to see your system in action.

When using the stainless mesh braid, I was averaging 77% efficiency. I have done 2 batches with my manifold, and hit 80% on both of those. Although the wheat had a stuck sparge and hit about 84%. I need to remember to get some rice hulls.

75 - 80% here, except when I screw things up

brownbeard wrote:When using the stainless mesh braid, I was averaging 77% efficiency. I have done 2 batches with my manifold, and hit 80% on both of those. Although the wheat had a stuck sparge and hit about 84%. I need to remember to get some rice hulls.

Tim,

The other thing you may want to do is try a wet crush. Mist your grains with a water bottle before you crush them, stir them up a little, and let them sit for 2 or 3 minutes for the hulls to absorb the water. This will cause the grain hulls to remain more in tact elimating the need for rice hulls. This is what I did when I reduced my mill gap. Works well.

Thanks for the input guys.

Tom -- No, I do not recirculate during the mash. I either go for single-infusion mashes or else dough-in very thick to make room for water infusions.

I double-checked the numbers in Beer Tools Pro (e.g. checking the DBFG values against Briess data sheets) and it looks like I hit 92% efficiency. So, who's up for some 7% Witbier...?

I'm thinking of speeding up my sparging process next time to bring the numbers down. I was running at about 1 qt/min to avoid a stuck sparge (probably being paranoid, given the 2 lbs of rice hulls mixed into a 26 lb grain bill). I can see three differences from my previous fly-sparged batches (which ranged between 75 - 85%).

1. This was a ten-gallon batch. (Seems unlikely to matter.)
2. I did a quasi-mash-out rest at 157. (I've heard this can bump it up a few points.)
3. This batch had a bunch of rice hulls. (Maybe improved efficiency due to reduced channeling?)

Anyway, I'll report back if I ever figure out which factors most significantly impact the efficiency.

Lee

I haven't calculated my efficiency in a while but it use to be between 75% and 85%. I have heard from podcasts and articles it is best to keep it under 85% as base malts are cheap and the more efficient you get the greater your risk for extracting things like tannins. As always, if it tastes good, then no problem.

7% sounds perfect for a wheat. You have to keep a few light beers around.