Initial Gravity Numbers

[lostboysbrew]

So a couple questions about the gravity of some beers we have been making. From batch to batch we have had a Double IPA go from 1.100 to 1.088 initial gravities. With the exact same ingredients and time table, how do the numbers vary?? Boil to long, not long enough???

In the same regard, putting recipes into Beersmith, our Porter recipe says it should start at 1.060 based on our ingredients and we consistently have it starting at 1.085. Why is there such a difference??

Cheers gang

 

[ajf]

Extract, Partial Mash, or All Grain?

If Extract, then the only thing that should affect the OG (assuming the same ingredients) is the volume.
If Partial Mash or All Grain, then your conversion efficiency and sparge efficiency could vary from batch to batch. Also, Beersmith uses an efficiency percentage to forecast the OG. If that percentage is wrong, you need to adjust it.

-a.

 

[lostboysbrew]

Could it be affected based on how long the initial malts are steeped?? We have been steeping for approx an hour, then beginning the boil and adding the extract and hops accordingly.

-lb

 

[JuanMoore]

We need more information in order to answer your questions. Are you doing a full boil, or a partial boil and then adding top off water? Have you calibrated your hydrometer, and are you adjusting the readings for temperature? Are you doing a partial mash with a large portion of the fermentables coming from the grains, or just steeping a pound or two of grain for flavor? How are you measuring your volumes? I'm guessing that either your readings or your volumes are off somehow.