How do you miss OG w/ extract? - Page 2

hallbag · 08-13-2009, 02:18 AM

First Post! I figured I would just reply and keep this thread going since its exactly what my question entails except I am doing full boils will extract kits and missing my OG's. It has happened on my last 3 brews and all by a considerable amount (est. 1.099 act. 1.089, 1.095 vs 1.083, 1.052 vs 1.0445). All of those were temperature corrected. Am I not getting enough boil-off when I brew? I measure exactly 6gallons, seem to get a pretty full, rolling boil going and never use a lid once the boiling starts. Any ideas? Should I use less starting volume and if so how much less? Thanks in advance.

Also, I just want to say this site has been a huge help. You never realize how terrible your process is as a beginner until you search through the threads on this site. My brews since joining/reading this aren't mature yet but I am sure they will be leaps and bounds better than my first 4 or 5 batches.

BoogieBrandBooze · 08-13-2009, 07:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Palefire

Ok, quick question (not to be obnoxious, I'm just wondering): if improper mixing is the cause of many too-low gravity measurements, shouldn't one see just as many too-high gravity measurements? As I understand it, if the wort and the top-off water are improperly mixed, then most likely it's more water nearer the top of the fermenter, and more wort neat the bottom, since wort has, well, a higher gravity than water.

But if you've just shaken the fermenter up for a few minutes and stick your turkey baster or wine thief or whatever deep enough in there, isn't there as much of a chance (or even more of a chance, if the ratio of wort to top-off water is greater than 1) that the hydro sample you end up with will have more wort than water in it, and will therefore give you a higher OG than is really the case?

Also, really - 10 minutes? Jeez, that'll kill the back.

Maybe it's time to just bend up a coat hanger, sanitize, plug into a drill and go to town.

I think it might depend on how you're taking your sample. I've never used a turkey baster, wine thief, or the like. I just pour straight from the carboy into a measuring cup thereby probably getting a less dense liquid since the sample is taken from the top. My guess would be a lot of beginners do it the same way which may account for most of the low OG readings. You may have a point when you talk about taking a sample deeper into the carboy. Makes sense to me, just haven't personally tried that...might have to do a little experiment...