Increasing efficiency in Brewmonk

[MattGuk]

Hi all, I am new to this forum and am looking for some advice.
I have recently switched from BIAB to a Brewmonk all in one system.
I have been having issues lately and can't seem to get to the bottom of it.
Since switching to this system my efficiency seem to have lowered to around 68-70%, which I know isn't terrible but it's a little annoying that I'm not hitting my targets like I used to.
I used to generally get about 75-80% when doing BIAB depending on the grain bill, however I am constantly well below my expected numbers recently, but my predicted volumes are always pretty much bang on.
The only thing I can think is maybe my grain crush, I buy all my malt the the Malt Miller and used to ask for a fine crush as my grain bag was a very fine mesh and nothing would get through.
Now I ask for a standard crush ( if that's a thing ) as I don't think the Brewmonks filter plates are fine enough and would let loads of grain through.
My P.H is always within range of 5.2 -5.5.
This seems to happen if I carry out no sparge or employ a sparge.
Just wondered if anybody else could offer any opinions on how to up this drop in efficiency.

Thanks for any help.

 

[Clint]

What efficiency do other users get from the same system?
I use pots and mash tun so not sure on all in one system,I increased my efficiency by 10% by changing the bazooka filter in the tun to a manifold...I can expect around 70% give it take a couple but struggle to get any higher.
This could be crush,my sparge method or the variety of malt..I think if you get consistent results that's a good thing as you can adjust the efficiency in brew software and account for any difference.

 

[MattGuk]

Hi Clint, thanks for your reply.
I guess consistency is the main thing we are after and I certainly could just adjust for this loss in brew father.
its just frustrating that I can't hit the number that are achievable in theory with this new system, which to my mind isn't too dissimilar to BIAB method where I used to get higher numbers.
Last week I brewed up a stout using just a tad over 6kg of grain with Brewfather set to 72% BHE, expected post boil was 1.050 and I got 1.045, expected post boil was 1.058 and I got 1.050, this was employing a sparge also.
Don't get me wrong it will still make nice beer ( hopefully ) but it would be nice to maximise my efficiency lol.

 

[MickDundee]

I’ve got the BrewDevil which is a very similar machine and I was originally getting around 70% but I’m now hitting 73-75%ish. I was only getting 65% when doing BIAB so it’s been all gains for me!

The 70% was just by replicating my BIAB process on this machine but no doubt with a more efficient sparge.

Part of the leap from 70% to 73-75% is due to me switching to Crafty Maltsters for my ale and lager malts. I’ve also done a couple of other things that have helped massively - pouring the malt in for the mash a mug full at a time and stirring, and performing a proper mash out seem to have helped my efficiency and 3 or 4 brews ago I hit 73% without any of the Crafty Malt in my grain bill.

 

[MattGuk]

hi Mick,
Thats interesting, maybe I should pour my malt in one jug at a time as currently I pour in from one bucket and stir like crazy while pouring, maybe I'm getting dough balls, not seen any however.
I used to perform a mashout but recently dropped it, maybe I should try it again.
I'm at a loss as where this issue could be, maybe that's about all I can get out of the Brewmonk, in which case I will just have to adjust my recipes to counter that.

 

[Clint]

I too put the malt in a scoop at a time.

 

[foxy]

I think you answered your own question, it is consistency you should be looking for. Difficult to compare two different systems, your fine grain crush will have had a lot to do with it with your BIAB.
Get to know your system and tweak where you think you can pick up a few more efficiency points (I have removed the top plate and return pipe and give a few gentle stirs to keep the temperature more even)
The aim is consistency, and producing the best beer possible, not achieving a higher efficiency.
I have often wondered whether having a high strike water temperature and a slow introduction of the grain would make any difference. The higher temperature defusing the ability of some of the grain to convert? Meaning the grains first into the mix. Would be dependent on how slow the grains went into the strike water.

 

[Twokka]

I know this thread is a bit old but I'd like to hear how you're getting on with efficiency now that you've probably done a fair few more brews on the Brew Monk. Like you, I used to brew BIAB and used to hit the numbers. Due to lack of space, I too opted for an all in one and chose the Brew Monk 45 litre option mainly because the power could be adjusted digitally and I liked the clear sight glass. Like you, I'm frustrated that I can't hit the numbers. Today's target pre-boil gravity on a NEIPA was 1.046 and I came in at 1.039. I know the Earth still spins but I'm now looking at a 4.6% ABV rather than a 5.5% that is more suitable for this style of beer. Brewfather calculated a 68% mash efficiency today! I too tend to get most of my grain from Malt Miller and whilst the base malt looks well crushed, some other malts such as Vienna, Caramalt and Carapils look less well crushed but maybe that's how they should look. When I mash, I recirculate the wort using the pump (although any spillage of grain outside the malt pipe always clogs the pump). One thing I'd like to know is how you get on with the Brew Monk thermometer because for me it's all over the place. Any tips or advice you can give to improve efficiency would be greatly appreciated.

 

[MattGuk]

my efficiency has generally settled on about 73% ish, had one that was nearly 80%, however, I brewed a stout a week or so back and was seriously low, like 58% low.
Upon empyting the malt aster the mash I noticed that a LOT of grains had hardly been crush, lots of fully intact grains too which was really annoying, plus it was low colour Maris Otter which always seems to give me lower gravity wort ( no idea why ),
Before this batch I used crisp fine ale malt I think it was called, and my number were normally a fair bit higher.
I have now got a grain bag that I put in the malt pipe and ask for extra fine crush, without the grain bag, the perforated plates on the brew monk would let all manor of stuff through, but a finer crush and different base malt has definitely helped with efficiency.

 

[RoomWithABrew]

The brew monk looks similar to a robobrew and brewzilla or Guten system.

I used a robobrew and now a Guten 70 litre. The efficiency of mash is probably good as far as conversion, you could try a 90 minute mash if you had concerns that full conversion wasn't occurring. The difficulty appears with these systems at the sparge and if you have a very large grain bill and hence full malt pipe.
Balancing a bigger volume sparge that runs slowly seems to be my problem area, I get a very rapid drain and sparge which can't help.

A recent bigger beer I sparged to my target volume and then removed the malt pipe and let it drain over a bucket, high sugar wort drained at 1.051 and then I poured over another 4 litres of boiling water and overnight ended up with about 9.5 litres of 1.071. Which I partigyled.

So you could consider splitting your mashes either partigyle or reiterating if your volumes and gravity indicate a grain bill that is going to fill your malt pipe.

I don't have the pump blocking problems, the robobrew did have a finer mesh screen that laid over the " holey one " and I do recirculate througout the mash.

It is worth checking the wort temp as it comes out of the pipe and the temp of the grains in the top of the malt pipe. Recalibrate the temp sensor or make allowances if you have to.

A good stir or two during the mash is also worthwhile.

 

[Twokka]

Many thanks to you both for your prompt advice. I've still got my old grain bag from BIAB days so I'll definitely give the finer crush option a go. I haven't recalibrated the temp sensor since new so about time it had another tune up. Cheers.

 

[Sandimas]

I used to generally get about 75-80% when doing BIAB depending on the grain bill,

I think you did well to get that efficiency from BIAB, I've only ever managed a max of 68%, so perhaps your expectations are set too high? As highlighted earlier, consistency is the key, grain is cheap so a bit more costs little, but if you know your efficiency every time you can hit your target. I plug my 68% into the recipe calculator every time I brew to ensure I hit my target OG, never rely on a written-down recipe.

 

[RichardM]

Also consider buying a grain mill. That way you can buy unmilled grains and mill them yourself to the crush suitable for your equipment.