When do I measure the first runnings gravity when measuring conversion efficiency using braukaiser’s method?
Today I collected 4 gallons first runnings. I measured 14 Brix after collecting the entire volume. Was I supposed to measure right after vorlauf (before draining the batch)?
When I calculate conversion efficiency I get 14/17.6 = 79%. I got the 17.6 from a table on the braukaiser site based on my qt/lb mash ratio of 1.7.
My brewhouse efficiency for the same batch was 76% (quite normal for my batches).
Did I calculate the conversion efficiency correctly? If so my lauter efficiency is good but my conversion can go higher.
PS. I batch sparge.
PPS. I average 76% brewhouse so I am not really trying to go higher. I was curious about conversion efficiency because I read you should be getting close to 100%.
Since you’re batch sparging, it doesn’t matter. The gravity will only change during the lauter if you’re still converting. What I do is check it at the beginning of vorlaufing so that I know whether I need to extend the mash rest.
Did you check gravity for the second (and higher, if any) runnings? To get 76% overall efficiency with 79% conversion for the first runnings you would almost have to have gotten additional conversion during the sparge(s).
Thanks guys. I downloaded a spreadsheet from the braukaiser website. My conversion efficiency was actually 91%. I forgot to add the mash out water volume when calculating the qt/lb ratio.
91% makes more sense.
I am not sure if I should try to improve this or not.