FG too high?

Yooper said:

My experience with software is that the FG is almost never predicted correctly. If you start with an OG of 1.088, it may give you the same FG as any other beer with an OG of 1.088, and not take mash temp, ingredients and yeast strain into consideration.

A better way to predict FG is through your own experiences, or ask someone around here what to expect based on a recipe. Some recipes have many more unfermentables than others, and Beersmith and other software programs still tend to give just an average attenuation number.

Click to expand...

RCBIV said:

Should I just give it a go then and see what the FG settles down to?

Click to expand...

Recipe Specifications
--------------------------
Boil Size: 3.00 gal
Post Boil Volume: 2.50 gal
Batch Size (fermenter): 2.50 gal
Bottling Volume: 2.10 gal
Estimated OG: 1.088 SG
Estimated FG: 1.024
Estimated Color: 10.3 SRM
Estimated IBU: 73.7 IBUs
Boil Time: 60 Minutes

Ingredients:
------------
Amt Name Type # %/IBU
7 lbs Pale Malt (2 Row) US (2.0 SRM) Grain 1 82.4 %
1 lbs Munich Malt - 20L (20.0 SRM) Grain 2 11.8 %
8.0 oz Caramel/Crystal Malt - 40L (40.0 SRM) Grain 3 5.9 %
1.50 oz Falconer's Flight [10.50 %] - Boil 60.0 min Hop 4 61.0 IBUs
0.25 oz Falconer's Flight [10.50 %] - Boil 20.0 min Hop 5 6.2 IBUs
0.50 tsp Irish Moss (Boil 10.0 mins) Fining 6 -
0.25 oz Falconer's Flight [10.50 %] - Boil 10.0 min Hop 7 3.7 IBUs
0.25 oz Falconer's Flight [10.50 %] - Boil 5.0 min Hop 8 2.0 IBUs
0.25 oz Falconer's Flight [10.50 %] - Boil 2.0 min Hop 9 0.9 IBUs
0.25 oz Falconer's Flight [10.50 %] - Boil 0.0 min Hop 10 0.0 IBUs
1.0 pkg Safale American (DCL/Fermentis #US-05) Yeast 11 -
1.00 oz Falconer's Flight [10.50 %] - Dry Hop 0.0 Days Hop 12 0.0 IBUs

Click to expand...

Yooper said:

One package of yeast should be more than adequate for 2.5 gallons of 1.088 wort. Don't use two!

That recipe looks pretty good, but sort of high on crystal malt at 6%. I'd be inclined to reduce that just a bit. I also would consider dropping a pound of the base malt, and using 1/2 pound of corn sugar instead. That would make sure you don't have a too-high FG in the end. The Dark Munich will give you a darker color and malty backbone.

I'd probably increase the late hops from .25 ounce to .5 ounce, as IIPAs are all about hops aroma and flavor. I think you need more hops in those additions, but can reduce the bittering hops a tad.

Here's what I do with that grain/hop bill:

6 lbs Pale Malt (2 Row)
1 lbs Munich Malt - 20L
4.0 oz Caramel/Crystal Malt
.5 pound corn sugar
1.0 oz Falconer's Flight Boil 60.0 min Hop 4 (45-50 IBUs from this addition)
0.50 oz Falconer's Flight [10.50 %] - Boil 20.0 min
0.50 oz Falconer's Flight [10.50 %] - Boil 10.0 min
0.50 oz Falconer's Flight [10.50 %] - Boil 5.0 min
0.50 oz Falconer's Flight [10.50 %] - Boil 0.0 min
1.00 oz Falconer's Flight [10.50 %] - Dry Hop 5-7

Mash at 150. This should finish in the neighborhood of 1.012-1.014.

Click to expand...