mash efficency

[Ray Mason]

Hi, I've just discovered a site that calculates the expected SG, if the grain quantities are input into a series of boxes, it's http://beercalculus.hopville.com/recipe. I use Graham Wheeler and Roger Protz's Brew Your Own Real Ale At Home book for most of my brews but am now trying to develope my own recipes, but if the quantaties from the book are inputed into the 'spreadsheet' the expected extract is widely different. e.g Guinness from book 1042, using calculator 1057. The calculator expects 75% efficency, or so it says. Is the calculator a load of bollocks, , Try it. Welcome comments from the experts, Ray.

[Jim]

Why not just download Graham's own free brewing software from his site here?

It's a good un and you can set your own efficiency based on your personal equipment set up.

[Ray Mason]

Hi, Brill..........downloaded it and filled in all the boxes and it worked out perfectly (and i've never been perfect at anything). SG of 1052 and EBU of 40 for a stout. So i'm working at 75% efficency..........not bad,isn't it? Thanks a lot (again). Ray