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02-11-2008, 03:27 PM
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#1
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Feedback Score: 0 reviews
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: West Chicago 'Burbs, IL
Posts: 3,388
Liked 85 Times on 64 Posts Likes Given: 37
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I can't make small beer.
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Stupid good efficiency. I had been having problems, so I designed my latest recipe (A Belgian Specialty) around 65%. I ended up at 77%, and after two weeks in the primary (because was pitching Brett in half of it), checked the O.G. at 1.012 from 1.065. I had aimed for an O.G. at around 1.054-55. I was expecting decent attenuation from the starter as well as the use of candi-sugar. But I wanted it to be at least <6%.
Same happened with my Pale back in October. That one attenuated more than I had imagined (to 1.010) and clocks in >6%.
My next recipe is going to aim for 1.040 at 75% eff. Blargh.
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02-11-2008, 03:36 PM
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#2
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Feedback Score: 0 reviews
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Cary, NC
Posts: 2,163
Liked 5 Times on 5 Posts
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I have this problem too. This is why I take a gravity reading before the boil. If pre-boil gravity is too high there is no way you'll hit your target OG so ABV will be too high and the IBU/OG balance will be off. The last time this happened to me I used the Dilution tool in BeerSmith to figure out how much water to add to the boil. I ended up hitting my target OG right on. I bottled that batch this weekend so I'll know how it turned out in a few weeks.
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Primary/Secondary: #90 American IPA, #91 Brown Ale
Kegged: #89 California Common
Planned: Dusseldorf Altbier, American Wheat
I use secondaries!
Last edited by Beerthoven; 02-11-2008 at 03:55 PM.
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02-11-2008, 07:03 PM
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#3
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Feedback Score: 0 reviews
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: Willamina & Oak Grove, Oregon, USA
Posts: 25,610
Liked 107 Times on 102 Posts
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My efficiency is generally good, but it varies with the weather. I just water a small beer down before pitching & put the extra in 1.5L bottles when I keg it. Since I design towards the middle of a style, the IBUs will still be on. The bottles can be handy for test dry hopping.
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Remember one unassailable statistic, as explained by the late, great George Carlin: "Just think of how stupid the average person is, and then realize half of them are even stupider!"
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02-11-2008, 08:01 PM
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#4
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Feedback Score: 0 reviews
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Nashville, TN
Posts: 1,149
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Don't forget to keep an eye on your hops additions too if you dilute. You'll have more beer, so you'll need to up the hops a little to compensate.
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Drinking on the keg: BPA, Brown Ale, Dry Mead, Wee Heavy aged on Oak, CAP
Drinking in the Bottle:
Conditioning:
Fermenting:
Planning:
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02-11-2008, 08:09 PM
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#5
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Feedback Score: 0 reviews
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: South River, NJ
Posts: 2,592
Liked 13 Times on 12 Posts Likes Given: 1
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Whats wrong with big beers?? Don't hate... appreciate!! 
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~~~~~~~~~~~___//_ ____________________________~~~~~~~~~~~
~~~~~~~~~_/ [][]| | /```\/```\/```\/```\/```\ |~~~~~~~~~~
~~~~~~~_/_______| |____NOW TRIPLE HOPPED______|~~~~~~~~~~
~~~___/[_]| 00 /| | \,,,/\,,,/\,,,/\,,,/\,,,/ |~~~~~~~~~~
~~|___|___|___/_| |___________________________|~~~~~~~~~~
~~|=(*)[________]==(*)(*)=| \________/=(*)(*)=|~~~~~~~~~~
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02-12-2008, 02:30 AM
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#6
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Steel Comma Ale & Lagery
Feedback Score: 0 reviews
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Menomonee Falls WI
Posts: 1,869
Liked 6 Times on 6 Posts
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I had the same thing happen yesterday. I designed a mild to be 1.038 but then I looked and saw it was at 75% eff. I changed it to the 87% I normally design at and it changed to 1.044 well good bye mild hello bitter. I ended up with 1.048 into the fermenter so it would be a special bitter but I didn't have enough finishing hops to make it one to a big bitter it is.
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