Help with a bad batch?

First off, apologies if I've made an error in protocol posting this here. I'm hoping to get some advice.

I brewed an extract batch of NB chocolate milk stout on Friday night. I added 8 oz of corn sugar to dry it out a bit because I understood that it was a very thick brew. Not sure if that matters, just like to be concise.

Somehow, I managed to top the fermentor off to 6 gallons instead of five. Of course, the final gravity was lower than expected. I'm just wondering if anybody has a suggestion to get the flavor and gravity back up?

I have considered adding some cherry puree to the secondary. The thought behind that being too add some fermentable sugars, and that cherry chocolate milk stout sounds like something people would enjoy!

 

Personally, I would just keep it as is and chalk it up to a learning experience. Adding cherries to a stout is going to make it very tart.

 

I wouldn't mess with it. I bet it tastes delicious. Believe me!

 

I'm confused............ How is adding corn sugar going to "dry it out"? A pound of corn sugar in a gallon of water will yield about 4.5% alcohol, so of course it will pull down the gravity a bit. I think you are making an issue out of a non-issue here. You have added a gallon of water and a pound of fermentables. The result is going to be similar to what you were shooting for....... if not exactly. If you had just added corn sugar, the only effect would have been higher OG and higher ABV. Adding the gallon of water you've lightened the brew a bit, while adding a fermentable to help keep the gravity up.

Don't worry...... be happy...... it's all going to work out about as you intended........the accidental fill was serendipity. The beer won't be a hoppy as you intended, but it should be good beer...... Make life easier.... use brewing software. I like Brewer's Friend best.

H.W.

 

He said 8 oz so it's a half pound.

To the O.P. It'll be a tad weaker but not much. It'll still be good beer.

 

Thanks for the feedback all. Seems that the common sentiment is to ride it out, so I'll give that a try.

To be clear, yes... I added a half pound total to the (now 6 gallon) batch, so less than 1.5 oz per gallon. Not enough to make up for the over filling of the fermentor (of course, that was never the intention).

 

My guess is that you'll be closer to 5 gallons than you think. Those marks are off a bit and with trub you'll be alright. It may taste better this way.

 

Oops..... I don't know why it came out a pound....... sorry. The gears weren't meshing right..... or perhaps the beers.... I'd had two ;-)

You can always add corn sugar or invert syrup to bring the ABV up to normal even though it's in the fermenter.


H.W.