Futureman

Recipes 

I've had a scotch ale in the primary for 4 days. The attenautive phase is complete and the krausen has fallen. The beer smells terrific--malty and very clean (just how I like it). And while it may be too soon to tell, the ABV at this point appears a little lower than I had hoped.

I have some brewing sugar (dextrose & maltodextrin mixture) on hand, and I'm wondering if I could add some without ruining flavor or lightening to the brew too much. Again, I'm happy with the appearance and smell, and I would hate to ruin a potentially great beer. Still, a bit more alcohol would be nice. Am I able to add at this point, how much is ideal?

weirdboy

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I personally wouldn't mess with it.

BendBrewer

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+1

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ChshreCat

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4 days? It may not be done fermenting, krausen or not.

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Hang Glider

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O.G. ??

predicted F.G.?
Actual F.G.?

wait a week...see what you get.

JJL

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I'm not sure what you mean by the ABV being lower than you had hoped. I'm guessing you mean that your F.G. is higher than you expected. After only 4 days, it likely will be.

+1 to leaving it alone - for at least another couple of weeks.

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Futureman

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Yes. Sorry I wasn't clearer.

Will do. Thanks!

malkore

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I wouldn't and here's why: your brewing sugar isn't 100% fermentable. the malto-dextrine in there won't ferment, and will actually just add body to the beer but not much sweetness.

at 4 days though, you are not done with primary, especially with a higher ABV beer.

and we can't really gauge a thing without your gravity readings. ALWAYS have those in a post to save yourself some time on the answer

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Malkore
Primary: English Mild
On tap: Pale Ale, Lancelot's Wheat, English Brown Ale, Steam Beer, HoovNuts IPA
Bottled: MOAM, Braggot, Raspberry Melomel, Merlot, Apfelwein, Pyment, Sweet mead, Cabernet
Gal in 2009: 27, Gal in 2010: 34, Gal in 2011: 13, Gal in 2012: 10