What do I Have ???

[kb2kir]

Happy Thanksgiving to All....
I tried my first all grain Brew In A Bag today.
Followed Specialkaye's method as close as I could.
I don't think the thermometer supplied with MY cooker is accurate as it needs to be for this type of use. I will get a GOOD one before next brew day !!!
Also, I made a mistake when graduating the brew pot and sparge pot.
After the boil I had about 3.5 gallons instead of 5. Without thinking, I topped up to the 5 gallon mark with cool water. I think this is where I went wrong.

My question is this: after racking to the fermenter, I took a gravity reading and found it to be 1.036. Do I have beer or something for the septic tank??
Joe

 

[Nurmey]

If you got it mixed thoroughly (hard to do), it will be a lighter ABV beer but definitely worth keeping.

 

[RLinNH]

Absolutely worth keeping. I Brew my Campers Delight, which is an Ordinary Bitter, and it has an O.G. of 1.034. Makes for a very tasty, low ABV home brew. I'd be anxious to see your recipe though.

 

[kb2kir]

RLinNH,
10lb Meris Otter malt ( milled fine by LHBS) 3/4 Oz Williamette Hops at beginning of boil, 3/4 Oz 2 minutes before end of boil....
That's it.

 

[Nurmey]

That's even better. You have a tasty SMaSH that is easy to drink. Win all around.

 

[kb2kir]

Thanks Guys!
I pitched as soon as the temp was correct...
We shall see what we shall see....
Will let you know in a week or so
Joe

 

[kb2kir]

Ok,, Got beer, had an awful aftertaste, down the toilet it went.
Will try again soon with different grain and newly acquired thermometer.
Joe

 

[kanzimonson]

WHAT!?!? That's a little quick to be making a decision! Did you even carbonate it?

 

[Nurmey]

Ok,, Got beer, had an awful aftertaste, down the toilet it went.
Will try again soon with different grain and newly acquired thermometer.
Joe

That is undoubtedly the silliest thing I have heard. NEVER, NEVER, NEVER judge a beer until it is aged properly. Beers go through several stages of flavors including some less pleasant ones while it is conditioning but almost always get much better.

 

[kb2kir]

Well maybe a bit premature, but after I lost 4 batches in a row due to the kits being un-hopped, I developed a taste for recognizing bad beer..... (I didn't know it but the new LHBS purchased LME with different colored labels. Being color blind, I didn't pick up on the subtle color difference that indicated Un-Hopped until I had trouble. Yooperbrew caught it just by what I was posting)

Anyway, this stuff was low gravity ( 1.036) and tasted like a medicine of some sort.....
It was my first brew in a bag, and I found I was way off in temperatures and probably used the wrong type of grain (Meris Otter Malt) for this method and deserve what I got....
Live and learn. I've got a new thermometer and am going to the LHBS tomorrow to get more grain and try again maybe next weekend.
Wish me luck !!
Joe