For the third brew in a row I have overshot my expected O.G. Is this normal with the grainfather. Their recipe builder tool has a default of 75% efficiency. I seem to be hitting 83% to there about. Do other users find this to be the case?
Grainfather efficiency
- Thread starter Lawrence22
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Saisonator
Landlord.
I normally get around 82%
Thanks, I'll adjust efficiency in the recipe builder next time. Particularly as I want my next brew to be a sessionable red ale.
With my last brew I diluted it a bit when bottling, added more water to the priming sugar while batch priming and that worked out fine. Todays brew was a winter weiss so the expected 6% instead of 5.4% doesn't bother me as it's not the sort of beer I'd be having lots of at one sitting. Putting it away for cold winter nights.
Saisonator
Landlord.
Doesn’t really matter either if it’s a bit under hopped.
MmmBeer
Brew Pub Brewer
I've regularly been getting efficiencies in the high 80's % in mine. But I also seem to struggle to get the FG down much below 1.020. I have come to the assumption that some of that extra gravity comes from unfermentables. So I was thinking of testing this assumption by mashing a few degrees cooler (62 or 63°C) in my next brew to see how that works.
I have had no real issues with final gravity. My last 2 brews have hit their target F.G (1.010 & 1.012), I mashed at 67ºC for this latest brew and the recipe software suggests an F.G. of 1.016 for this one so I will see.
83% is not that unusual, but you do have to dough in well and it does help if you keep the total grain bill around the "sweet spot" of 4.5kg for the standard pipework . Efficiency seems to drop off a bit by 5kg and a bit more by 6kg. (I've never done a small grain bill in the GF).
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This brew was 3.7kg with an extra 100g of rice hulls using the micro pipe work for a 15L brew. I got over 80% with 5.3kg on my last brew with ordinary pipe work.
Sounds like you have a good routine for starting the mash. This is worth doing!
Norfolk79
Legendary Beer Drinker
I usually end up in the mid to high 80's ( I do crush my own grain) so I've dialled that into the recipes on the Grainfather recipe website so I don't keep overshooting my gravity readings.
Also means I can usually get 6 or so brews from a 25kg sack of pale malt.
First 3 brews or so were from pre-weighed packs of grain from Homebrew Online in Ireland. One of them which was meant to be a 4.8% ale ended up nearer 6%.
Also means I can usually get 6 or so brews from a 25kg sack of pale malt.
First 3 brews or so were from pre-weighed packs of grain from Homebrew Online in Ireland. One of them which was meant to be a 4.8% ale ended up nearer 6%.
Ive been having issues with my efficiency recently but this is most likely down to trying to get the crush size right. I bought a grain mill and have been experimenting with different crush sizes. My last brew I set at 1.2mm for the base malt (maris otter) and 0.9mm for the malted oats (these are much smaller grains). The crush looked pretty good with a bit of flour and alot of the husks just split apart, however I got an OG of 1040 instead of 1045 with my calculation set at 70% efficiency. Im thinking I should try 1.1mm for the base malt... my first attempt I used 0.9mm and got a lot of flour.
Anyone else using a mill and grainfather? what gap do you set?
Anyone else using a mill and grainfather? what gap do you set?
Braufather
Landlord.
Not sure this helps but for the BM, 1.6 is now the recommendation.
Dont complain, higher OG means Higher ABV. Winner : )
I'm trying a huge grandfather brew next week, taking it to its limits with 9KG of Malt and hoping to hit 12%
Going for a Maple, Vanilla, Cacao Imperial Stout
I'm trying a huge grandfather brew next week, taking it to its limits with 9KG of Malt and hoping to hit 12%
Going for a Maple, Vanilla, Cacao Imperial Stout
1.6! I thought at 1.2 it was too big a gap but next time I might try 1.6 then run it through again if they are not getting properly crushed.
Do you mill yourself or buy the grain crushed?
What recipe you doing? I need to get another big stout on so it is ready about xmas time.
No I dont have a mill unfortunately and only done 1 brew on my new grainfather so far.
Its a recipe ive devised. Was looking along the peanut butter route but I dont like the idea of using artificial flavourings like PB2 or the oils.
So going all natural.
Just undecided what yeast to use
Its a recipe ive devised. Was looking along the peanut butter route but I dont like the idea of using artificial flavourings like PB2 or the oils.
So going all natural.
Just undecided what yeast to use
Just make sure you use a lot of yeast! My first attempt at a russian imperial stout (9.5%) I only used one pack and got a stuck ferment. I since learned that I should have used 2 or 3 packs for that high OG. I use CrossMyLoof yeasts so doesnt cost much more to throw a few packs in when needed.
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