Strange gravity readings for first AG.

**Brewsncrabs** · 02-04-2012, 09:15 PM

I brewed my first 5 gal AG today, a modified clone of Heavy Seas Loose Cannon using beersmith. I got some strange gravitiy readings that confused me. Maybe someone can explain what I am doing wrong.
While mashing, preboil gravity was supposed to be 1059 but was 1044 with an end of runnings of 1036. Iodine test was good for conversion and my water volume collected was about perfect. I figured I would just end up with a lower ABV. I did add about 2 ounces of DME, which is all I had on hand, to try to get a few points back. So I take an OG reading before pitching to see how short I would be and it is 1059, very close to the estimated 1062.
I am confused as to why my water volumes are correct but my end of runnings
was so high. Should I have sparged again and then boiled the extra water off? And how could I have come up short up on my preboil readings and then got very close to the estimated OG reading? The couple ounces of DME I added would not have been enough to get all the points back.
I dont know how to attach Beersmith files. If this would help and someone can explain how to attach a Beersmith file, I will be happy to.

**kbuzz** · 02-04-2012, 09:18 PM

Were you using a hydrometer or refractometer?

**Brewsncrabs** · 02-04-2012, 09:35 PM

Hydrometer corrected for temp using beersmith

**kbuzz** · 02-04-2012, 09:48 PM

My next question is to see the recipe...I don't use beersmith however, so I can't help there.

phoenixs4r · 02-04-2012, 10:17 PM

Did you cool your post boil hydrometer sample to <90f? I got bitten by that my first AG.

**Brewsncrabs** · 02-04-2012, 10:34 PM

My post boil gravity temp was 68 degrees. My pre boil gravity temp was 100 degrees. All were corrected using Beersmith.

**Paul07293** · 02-04-2012, 10:44 PM

I use Beersmith and depending on batch size and recipe it usually figures for a 1.5-2 gallon reduction in liquid from the boil. What was your anticipated and measured preboil volumes? It doesn't figure that the anticipated preboil gravity would be 1.059 and the anticipated OG in the fermenter would be 1.062. That would be hardly any liquid loss during the boil. The preboil of 1.044 and OG of 1.059 makes more sense.
Post your recipe and I'll plug in the values and see what I come up with.

uncle-buck · 02-04-2012, 10:48 PM

Sounds like you did not correct your hydrometer reading for temp. Your preboil wort temp was probably in the 125-130 range which would add about 13 pts to your actual reading and would have put you right in your target range. Post boil gravity will always be higher because you have the same amount of "points" but in less wort due to boil off.

**Brewsncrabs** · 02-04-2012, 10:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by uncle-buck

Sounds like you did not correct your hydrometer reading for temp. Your preboil wort temp was probably in the 125-130 range which would add about 13 pts to your actual reading and would have put you right in your target range. Post boil gravity will always be higher because you have the same amount of "points" but in less wort due to boil off.

All temps were corrected using beeresmith.

**kbuzz** · 02-04-2012, 10:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Paul07293

I use Beersmith and depending on batch size and recipe it usually figures for a 1.5-2 gallon reduction in liquid from the boil. What was your anticipated and measured preboil volumes? It doesn't figure that the anticipated preboil gravity would be 1.059 and the anticipated OG in the fermenter would be 1.062. That would be hardly any liquid loss during the boil. The preboil of 1.044 and OG of 1.059 makes more sense.
Post your recipe and I'll plug in the values and see what I come up with.

This is the logic I was applying to your problem...but need to see the recipe unfortunately.