Tips on efficiency

[robsan77]

:hmm: I have had some low efficiency recently (60% last 2 brews) and wondered if anyone has any tips or reasons to explain why this could be? Both sparges have been quick, too quick maybe? I am low on the bag of grain.

 

[Sean_Mc]

Mine have been all over the shop recently and tried batch sparging, but prefer fly sparging, its seems more hands on :hmm:

So I now sparge with a pump keeping the level a few mm over the grain, it takes me a good 45min to complete , take readings with a refractometer and my last few brews have come closer to 80%

 

My method is to Fly sparge to a volume, I make no attempt to keep liquor above the grain bed.
Average BHE is 85%.
I suppose it all depends on what figures you use for possible extraction!

Mine are:-
Pale malt/Adjuncts - 300 degs per kg per ltr.
Crystal malt - 240 degs per kg per ltr.

For completeness - Sugar - 360 degs per kg per ltr.

 

[BarnsleyBrewer]

:hmm: I have had some low efficiency recently (60% last 2 brews) and wondered if anyone has any tips or reasons to explain why this could be? Both sparges have been quick, too quick maybe? I am low on the bag of grain.

Has your malt gone "slack" where did you buy it, how old is it?

John

 

[markp]

A quick sparge will lower your efficiency.
A 50 litre sparge will generally take me 50-60 minutes.

Other than what has been suggested, I would also check the pH of the mash next time I brewed.
Do you have an accurate figure for alkalinity and do you use CRS to trest your liquor??