Hello All!
I am new to Homebrewtalk and to homebrewing, having made only three full 5 gallon batches of beer. I have a question that has been bothering me. Recently, I tried to make a 9.6% russian imperial stout. I use an iphone program to track my grain and adjuncts and so I went to my local supplies store to pick up my grain (huge grain bill). I asked one of the workers where the 19L (5 gallon) line on the carboy was so that I would know where to fill up water to. See, for the past few batches, I have been quite strict about using only 5 gallons of water overall (using a portion for the steep and boil, and then adding the remaining in to the fermenter with the wort with a little extra to account for some boiled off). However, this has only given me batches around 13L and I see everywhere pictures of entirely full carboys for other homebrewers.
So, I steeped the grain for my stout and then boiled with some additional sugars, hops, etc. Cooled and added it to the carboy, topping it up to the proper 19L line (or what I was told), and took a gravity reading1/3 the gravity I expected. My questions are this: Should I always expect in homebrewing that I will add water to the fermenter incrementally, taking readings as I go until I hit the gravity I want, and then potentially not have full 19L batches? Or, is there something I should have kept in mind about water additions and/or a tried and true method for ensuring you get proper gravity and maximum capacity?
Anything would be helpful! Thanks!
I am new to Homebrewtalk and to homebrewing, having made only three full 5 gallon batches of beer. I have a question that has been bothering me. Recently, I tried to make a 9.6% russian imperial stout. I use an iphone program to track my grain and adjuncts and so I went to my local supplies store to pick up my grain (huge grain bill). I asked one of the workers where the 19L (5 gallon) line on the carboy was so that I would know where to fill up water to. See, for the past few batches, I have been quite strict about using only 5 gallons of water overall (using a portion for the steep and boil, and then adding the remaining in to the fermenter with the wort with a little extra to account for some boiled off). However, this has only given me batches around 13L and I see everywhere pictures of entirely full carboys for other homebrewers.
So, I steeped the grain for my stout and then boiled with some additional sugars, hops, etc. Cooled and added it to the carboy, topping it up to the proper 19L line (or what I was told), and took a gravity reading1/3 the gravity I expected. My questions are this: Should I always expect in homebrewing that I will add water to the fermenter incrementally, taking readings as I go until I hit the gravity I want, and then potentially not have full 19L batches? Or, is there something I should have kept in mind about water additions and/or a tried and true method for ensuring you get proper gravity and maximum capacity?
Anything would be helpful! Thanks!