Efficiency Confusion

[jonhughey_att.net (HoosierBrew)]

@ynotbrusum

I would dedicate a ruler or make lines on a nylon spoon or use some method to gauge your water precisely.  Use a bottle with a known specific volume to incrementally fill up your mash tun and boil kettle (unless they are virtually the same type of vessel - then just do it for one of them), going say, a gallon at a time and marking it on your ruler or spoon or stick or whatever, so that you can have a reasonably good gauge of volumes.  This will allow you to know your volumes as you go and allow for differing boil off rates given differing humidity levels, etc…  I have found this to be invaluable even now after many, many batches.  Once you get things dialed in, you will hit specific marks based on grain amounts almost without thinking.

+1 to all of this.

[sbruening]

@ynotbrusum

I would dedicate a ruler or make lines on a nylon spoon or use some method to gauge your water precisely.  Use a bottle with a known specific volume to incrementally fill up your mash tun and boil kettle (unless they are virtually the same type of vessel - then just do it for one of them), going say, a gallon at a time and marking it on your ruler or spoon or stick or whatever, so that you can have a reasonably good gauge of volumes.  This will allow you to know your volumes as you go and allow for differing boil off rates given differing humidity levels, etc…  I have found this to be invaluable even now after many, many batches.  Once you get things dialed in, you will hit specific marks based on grain amounts almost without thinking.

Cheers! and welcome to the forum. Read Denny’s bottom line for what most people think about this forum - a great place.

This will be very helpful.  How would you go about marking the nylon rod for measurements?  Permanent marker?  Wouldn’t that get into the beer?  Thanks.

[brewcrew7]

You could look up “acid etching kettle” to find a way to make permanent markings on your kettle. Be sure to do the research before considering this (health caution, etc). I’ve done it on one pot of mine and like it so far.

About efficiency, I would agree with the others about volume/gravity measurements. You can be off by 1 qt anywhere in the process and be off your efficiency by 5% or so. That can also translate to 0.5lb base malt in a 5 gallon batch. Remember hot wort/water expands in volume 3-4%. Is that worth concern? You can weigh the practicality of seeking those lost or gained volumes against your sanity and the quality of your beer, it’s up to you!

[ynotbrusum]

@sbruening

This will be very helpful.  How would you go about marking the nylon rod for measurements?  Permanent marker?  Wouldn’t that get into the beer?  Thanks.

I used a magic marker on a nylon spoon, but it is in the wort so little time (I use it only for measuring gallons to the right level) that it can’t make much of a difference.  Plus, I make 10 gallon batches almost exclusively, so I don’t have it marked below 5 gallons.

Cheers!