Question about reading SG

[Big Al]

So I tried my first non-kit beer today and went for the Caramel Cream Ale. It seems to have gone very well, but when I read the Hydrometer it read 1.14.

Way too high and I can't imagine why except that I measured the 2 Gallon Wort that I brewed and added another 3 Gal of Cold Water to the mix that wasn't measured.

In the future should I be sampling the entire batch after I mix the cold water with the Wort?

Thanks for any advice in advance.

 

[the_bird]

Yes, you need to measure the entire batch.

 

[Big Al]

Yes, you need to measure the entire batch.

Thanks for the quick response. Should I pull some out and test it or let it go at this point? I'm weary of contaminating it.

 

[the_bird]

I'd let it be. Live and learn.

 

[Big Al]

I'd let it be. Live and learn.

That's where I was leaning. Thanks much for the advice. I'm going to assume it's pretty close to what it should be since I didn't muck with the recipe too much.

 

[david_42]

1.140 @ 2 gallons = 1.056 @ 5 gallons.

 

[Big Al]

1.140 @ 2 gallons = 1.056 @ 5 gallons.

That's much better. Since water is 1.0 I should have figured that one out on my own!

Thanks again.