Will my Barley Wine kit brew up to 12%

GabrielKnight · 04-11-2009, 10:20 AM

I've had some success using Young's Barley Wine kit usually brewing up to around 10%, and have now prepared a new batch but only added water up to a level where the hydrometer gives a potential alcohol reading of 12%. Do you think the yeast will manage this or am I aiming too high?

Also, as I'm using two kits, should I just add one packet of yeast, two, or somewhere in between?

EvilTOJ · 04-11-2009, 10:31 AM

You may as well add both packets of yeast. What kind of yeast is it? Some will ferment fine up to 12%, some won't. What kind of kits are these? And what's the hydrometer readings say?

irunxcjm · 04-11-2009, 01:53 PM

Yeah, the potential alcohol scale on the hydrometer isn't a good way to judge things. That's mainly used for wine. It might get you close, but it all depends on the attenuation of your yeast. With that high of an OG, I'd use both packages.