Brewhouse Efficency

[imperialipa]

I was hoping some of you might be able to help with a recommendation on how to squeeze out a higher efficency.

Here is my process and equipment

1. 3 roller grain mill. (320D series)
2. Using a #14, 30 and 60 sieve I get 55% in the 14. 26% in the 30. 9% in the 60 and 10% in the pan
3. 2BBL Mash tun. Direct fired
4. I recirculate thru out the mash.
5. 1.25Qt per LB of grain ratio (2.75 grist to water ratio)
6. Normal mash temps are 150-152
7. Mash for an hour then it takes about another 30 to mash out at 165
8. Fly sparge with 168 degree water.
9. Sparge at 1 Gal/min so it takes about 70-80 min to collect wort

Efficency has been 78% for the last 4 batches. Not the end of the world but in making larger gravity beers a 85-90% efficency would free up more mash tun space.

Any suggestions?

[timbro81]

This is a pretty good read from a very knowledgeable cat. I would say loosen that mill up more as one possible improvement.

http://files.craftingbeer.com/CBC2011/ImprovingBrewhouseEfficiency-Havig.pdf

Tim Brophy
Marshall Brewing
Tulsa, OK

[imperialipa]

I read thru that and I'm a bit confused. A courser grind you would think would mean less endosperm exposed for conversion.

I based my crush % sieve goals on Briess instructions for normal crush.

http://www.docstoc.com/docs/114825914/Practical-Milling-for-the-Craft-Brewer---Briess-Malt-_amp-Ingredients-Co

They are recommending to get your crush in line with how I set my mill. i'm certainly willing to try it and adjust my mill to fall withing the other coarser specs but I'm thinking that will not result in higher yield.

[nateo]

I read thru that and I'm a bit confused. A courser grind you would think would mean less endosperm exposed for conversion.

A fine crush also means denser mash beds and more risk of channeling. So it's a run-off issue, not a conversion issue.

[hazyPRO]

I second what Nateo said. I've been using a RIMS mash on our pilot system and was having similar issues with channeling. Opened up the gap and presto, 90+ percent. Also you might consider increasing your Liquor:Grist ratio. 3.5:1 -4:1 is not unreasonable. You want to make sure the grain bed is submerged to prevent collapse and the thin mash isn't an issue as you're increasing the reaction rate by recirculating.

[imperialipa]

Ok. Will recalibrate my crush to a wider mill setting and increase my grist ratio. I'm brewing a stout next so I will post back on if I got a bump in efficency