I'm a relatively competent kit wine maker making my first batch of beer. I bought a Brewer's Best Kit, American Micro Style Pale Ale.
I started it last night but the starting SG is way too low, 1.02. I triple checked it because I was so surprised. I had already pitched the yeast, but it was only a minute or two before I remembered to check the SG.
I can think of several possible reasons:
I didn't get enough of the extract out of the cans when starting the wort. I did not pre-warm the cans of Malt Extract, therefore it was a bit hard to get the stuff out. But what I did was pour some hot wort back into the cans and use that to loosen it up, I scraped it out real good with the mixing spoon so I don't think that's it.
I did not stir after topping up with water to the 5 gallon mark. But I used a wine thief which got some of the wort from the bottom.
When I poured the chilled wort into the primary, I left too much behind. I think this is probably it. You aren't supposed to pour out the sediment (trub) I was thinking of not getting too much sediment in the beer rather than trying to get all the good stuff.
This morning I'm not seeing any bubbling through the airlock but the surface is covered with a cap, looks like the yeast is starting up.
So I'm finally getting to my question: Should I add some sugar or anything else (more extract?) to this before the fermentation goes very far?
Appreciate any thoughts.
I started it last night but the starting SG is way too low, 1.02. I triple checked it because I was so surprised. I had already pitched the yeast, but it was only a minute or two before I remembered to check the SG.
I can think of several possible reasons:
I didn't get enough of the extract out of the cans when starting the wort. I did not pre-warm the cans of Malt Extract, therefore it was a bit hard to get the stuff out. But what I did was pour some hot wort back into the cans and use that to loosen it up, I scraped it out real good with the mixing spoon so I don't think that's it.
I did not stir after topping up with water to the 5 gallon mark. But I used a wine thief which got some of the wort from the bottom.
When I poured the chilled wort into the primary, I left too much behind. I think this is probably it. You aren't supposed to pour out the sediment (trub) I was thinking of not getting too much sediment in the beer rather than trying to get all the good stuff.
This morning I'm not seeing any bubbling through the airlock but the surface is covered with a cap, looks like the yeast is starting up.
So I'm finally getting to my question: Should I add some sugar or anything else (more extract?) to this before the fermentation goes very far?
Appreciate any thoughts.