caryagilbertii

Recipes 

I recently brewed a chocolate stout using 4lb DME and 3.3lb LME, 8oz unsweetened chocolate later in the boil, 1.5oz cascade hops, and 1lb black patent malts. I melted the chocolate first in a double boiler and added it to the boil when all the malts had dissolved and first round of hops added (after 30 grain steep). The chocolate kind of coagulated, so I filtered before putting in the primary and removed a fair amount of chunks, but it wasn't significant. But my gravity was only 1.032. With 7.3lb extract and a full pound of malts, I really was surprised that it was this low. I took the reading in the primary and there were some chocolate oils floating on top. Could my gravity be off? I was really hoping for a generous stout.

I just racked today and took another reading. This time only 1.020! It had a healthy bubble for a few days so I was really hoping for the low teens. It's cloudy, definitely can taste the chocolate, and not quite good yet (hopefully it will be).

Any thoughts on these gravity readings? I like to have my brews around 1.060. My last pale ale batch started at only 1.044 also, despite putting in 8lb LME. It's tasty and does seem to be alcoholic, but what's going on. I'm afraid there's something I'm doing wrong in the brew process. Whatever thoughts or advice you can give would be greatly appreciated!!!