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Accidentally froze my stout.

Discussion in 'Beginners Beer Brewing Forum' started by odie313, Nov 20, 2012.

 

  1. #1
    odie313

    Active Member

    Posted Nov 20, 2012
    Brewed a sweet stout last month. Had an OG of 1.048, FG was 1.021, for an approximate abv% of 3.5. Since I forgot to add a whirlfloc tablet during boiling, I decided to cold crash. I set my ferm chamber for 33f on this past Saturday night. When I pulled the beer out Monday night the carboy was frozen solid. I cranked up the heat wrap to 50F for the beer to thaw. I was then able to transfer to the keg.

    My question is:
    1. How would I calculate the new abv%
    2. will this make it to sweet for consumption, if it is is there a fix.
     
  2. #2
    Punx Clever

    Well-Known Member

    Posted Nov 20, 2012
    If it thawed completely, there should be no change in ABV or sweetness.

    Was there a lump of ice in the carboy?
     
  3. #3
    CGVT

    Senior Member

    Posted Nov 20, 2012
    This^^^

    I had trouble with my temperature controller on my keezer and froze my kegs solid a couple of times (I've fixed it).

    As long as you let the beer thaw completely there is not a change to the ABV.

    I let my beers thaw and they were fine.
     
  4. #4
    odie313

    Active Member

    Posted Nov 20, 2012
    I let it thaw, but not completely. Did have some ice leftover in the carboy.
     
  5. #5
    CGVT

    Senior Member

    Posted Nov 20, 2012

    That is not good. :(

    It will be stronger for sure, but I don't have a clue as to figure out how strong

    Did you taste it?
     
  6. #6
    meadmazer

    Well-Known Member

    Posted Nov 20, 2012
    Take another hydrometer reading, see if it changed.
     
  7. #7
    CGVT

    Senior Member

    Posted Nov 20, 2012
    Duh! :drunk:
     
    oakbarn likes this.
  8. #8
    BrewerBear

    Well-Known Member  

    Posted Nov 21, 2012
    How much ice was left in the carboy? How many gallons ending up in the keg?
     
  9. #9
    odie313

    Active Member

    Posted Nov 21, 2012
    Took a hydrometer reading, still read the same. If i had to guess i would say I put about 4-4.5 gallons in the keg. I'm trying it right now;thought it would be too sweet, but its not. Now if I can only figure the ABV, its definitely above 3.5%.
     
  10. #10
    meadmazer

    Well-Known Member

    Posted Nov 21, 2012
  11. #11
    Punx Clever

    Well-Known Member

    Posted Nov 24, 2012
    Well, I'm going to assume you had 5 gallons of 3.5% stout. That means you had ~0.175 gallons of pure EtOH in there. (5*0.035 = .175)
    Now you have 4.5 gallons total with 0.175 of that being EtOH. So, about 3.9% ABV. (.175/4.5 = .0388)
    If it's 4 gallons total, about 4.4% ABV.

    Easy peasy.
     
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