Mashing temperature/ Efficiency

[Duxuk]

Today I made AG#26. Much the same as many previous brews and with a healthy efficiency. Just not as healthy as I often achieve. I heated the water to the usual temp. for a BIAB, which with my equipment if 68C. When I'd added my grains it only reached 65C.I often find it dropping very little below 68C and maintaining at least 64C after 90 minutes. Today it fell to 62C at the end. I'm guessing that my 4-5% lower efficiency was caused by this lower mash temp. I must have fannied around with the lid off for too long.
Do AG brewers find that their efficiency alters with different mashing temperatures?

 

[pittsy]

yes in short but that depends also on the time mashing . Step mashing gives better efficiency (usually ) but also sparging will effect it too .

 

[MyQul]

I usually heat my water to 72 degree C, after adding my grains this brings it down to 66.5. I also do a 90 min mash but every 30 mins I give it a good stir. I also check temp and if its fallen below 66.5 (or required temp) I heat it up again. I find that stirring helps efficiency as well as sparging. Even a small sparge of a litre of two helps quite a bit

 

[Duxuk]

I also agree that sparging in BIAB is a very good idea. I use 6l of water to sparge in an FV whilst heating the bulk to a boil. I get at least 10% improvement in efficiency for no additional total time. :thumb: