Sparge time vs. Efficiency

[gwk453]

I recirculate my mash and my sparge time is 60 minutes with a Blichmann autosparge. I sparge until I hit my boil volume of 15.25 gal., pumping from my mash turn to my boil kettle. My efficiency is repeatedly 89-90%. My question is can I pump faster to bring my efficiency down to 75%. How much faster? Is it a linear?

[bcmaui]

I recirculate my mash and my sparge time is 60 minutes with a Blichmann autosparge. I sparge until I hit my boil volume of 15.25 gal., pumping from my mash turn to my boil kettle. My efficiency is repeatedly 89-90%. My question is can I pump faster to bring my efficiency down to 75%. How much faster? Is it a linear?

You can also mill your grain not as fine. You sparge time seems typical for running 15 gallons.

[Quin]

You could probably reduce it down to a 40 min sparge and be OK, but it would be better to creep up on it by reducing your sparge time 10 min per batch until you hit your target.

[gwk453]

Just finished brewing!!! I increased the gap to .053 on my Monster Mill. A niece coarse grind. OG was right at 75%! Sparge was the same. Didn't want to change two variables:jnj
Thanks for the info

[dmtaylor]

I'm curious... why did you want to decrease your efficiency anyway? Just curious. Personally I have a theory that lower efficiency beers taste more malty, but I have more experiments to run to confirm this. For a while I was getting average efficiencies in the 90s, then I backed off on the crush and succeeded in hitting ~82%, and I'm keeping it there for the time being in the hopes of making better tasting beer. So that's me... but what were your reasons??

[thatguy314]

I'm curious... why did you want to decrease your efficiency anyway? Just curious. Personally I have a theory that lower efficiency beers taste more malty, but I have more experiments to run to confirm this. For a while I was getting average efficiencies in the 90s, then I backed off on the crush and succeeded in hitting ~82%, and I'm keeping it there for the time being in the hopes of making better tasting beer. So that's me... but what were your reasons??

+1, i felt the same way. I taste my sparge and I get malt flavor, then sweet, then husky if i go too long. I always cut off my sparge early. The last runnings don't really help me get flavor, just more sugar. In most styles of beer, I'm not looking for sugar without flavor (maybe american lagers, but that's about it).

[gwk453]

I am a good listener to the BN shows and podcast! If 75% efficiency is good for Jamil and Tasty then better tasting beer is my goal. Squeezing every penny (and sugar) out of a pound of grain is OK too if you are brewing for ABV. Taste is quite subjective to an individual's palate, I'll stick with the 75 - 80 % ers. I don't have the time to brew for tannins. It is a a one shot deal with me! I have brewed 60 gallons this summer and have been working to dial my new equipment setup in. I was hitting 91 - 92% eff. and had a slight off taste on my palate that I am untrained to recognize. Even with different waters, grains, and yeast! I went lighter on the grain bill once, ended up around 76% and the taste was gone. So I am hoping it was tannin I was tasting. I just got my ABV below 6% on my last batch @ 75% eff. I like to have few pints without falling over! Beer is Good!

[bcmaui]

Just finished brewing!!! I increased the gap to .053 on my Monster Mill. A niece coarse grind. OG was right at 75%! Sparge was the same. Didn't want to change two variables:jnj
Thanks for the info

Cheers and Aloha