I just started brewing a hefe, not a style I normally brew. The last time my BG was way off on the low side. I attributed it to not getting a good crush on the wheat malt. So, today I double-crushed the wheat malt. The BG was still low by 8 points. I used 6.25 lbs wheat, 6 lbs pils, and 1 lb rice hulls. Single infusion mash. Aside from increasing the grain bill next time to make up for the loss in efficiency, is there something I’m missing? Is there a better “cure” for this anomaly? Thanks.
Ot could be that the number you’re using for the potential extract of the wheat malt is higher than the malt really is. Just a WAG…what potential are you using?
uh…whatever Promash uses under German wheat malt. I’m using Bestmalz.
The mill might not be tight enough. Try a triple crush!?!?1
Correction: Bestmalz is my pils malt. The wheat malt is whatever German brand the LHBS is selling.
As for the crush, my mill is set such that my efficiency runs 75-77% for all brews in the ~1.050 range. This hefe came in at 64%. Maybe I’ll have the LHBS pulverize the crap out of it next time since I don’t want to mess with my mill on the few occasions when I brew a wheat beer.
There is a previous thread on efficiency loss with adjuncts, but I can’t find it.
Most replies noted a loss in efficiency when using wheat or rye. I tend to see a 5-7% loss when using a considerable amount of either.
Same here, it’s kind of a bummer.
The OP is using wheat malt, not an adjunct. Anyway, I wonder if folks are seeing the same kind of losses regardless of wheat source (malt, flaked or berries).
I see no loss in efficiency from wheat or rye. I must be crushing too hard! ;D
Beersmith lists the potential for white wheat malt as 1.040 pppg. This is about 10% higher than the potential for the other base malts (1.035-1.037). I am not sure if wheat malt really has a higher extract potential, but it seems like that could be the problem.
The ProMash estimate for German wheat malt is 1.039 ppg. Looking at some of the lot analysis for Best Malz wheat on the Country Malt site (http://www.countrymaltgroup.com/maltlot.asp, enter BZW and you’ll get a list), the average is only around 1.037.