How's This Crush Look

[mstead]

Hey all:

Trying to nail down an efficiency problem I've been experiencing. It seems i started losing efficiency ever since a) I started milling my own grain b) started using a false bottom instead of a copper manifold.

I know there's a lot of other things that it could be but I figured I'll start with the 2 things I know have changed.

A false bottom should be better than the manifold as I understand so I'll focus on the crush first. I tightened the mill gap a little today to 0.042 inch. This wasn't a very big adjustment from what I had but the crush does seem a little finer. I'll be trying it out on this afternoons brew day.

How's it look to you?





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[LeafMan66_67]

Crush looks good from here - FWIW, mine is 0.038, but I use a bag instead of my false bottom when I batch sparge.

[mstead]

Cool thanks. About to mash in. I'll see how it goes with that change.

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[mstead]

Gained 6 points with the crush adjustment using batch sparge method. However I was still 8 pts off (61%) my estimated target OG to be at 70% -- which sucks. Something is gone wonky. Better luck next time I guess!

Never used to be this off target. If I can't figure it out, I'll just have to start using a little more grain I suppose.

[LeafMan66_67]

Just out of curiosity, what was your target OG?

[Broob]

I always run my grain through the mill twice on the same setting. Every time I haven't my efficiency suffers a bit.

[mstead]

Just out of curiosity, what was your target OG?

Looking at my percentages from the earlier post, I think I may have put Brewhouse efficiency -- not mash. And, I'm pretty sure that I need to do more research on them both, particularly on how brewhouse efficiency affects OG.

That being said, my target gravity was 1.068. I did the same recipe last week and I hit 1.054 Yesterday I hit 1.060. So changing the crush did help some.

The recipe in beersmith has brewhouse efficiency at 70%.

Am I just and worrying about nothing??? Should I be able to hit the target or should I just chaulk it up to my system and use more grain?

[MitchK]

What is your deadspace like? How many litres are you leaving behind in the mash tun or the brew kettle?

[sleepyjamie]

What kind of mashing are you doing (no sparge, batch, fly)? Also are you ensuring your mash ph is within the right range? what is your mash to water ratio?