Adding water to wort

[johnnyhaff]

I just tried brewing a 5 gallon batch of Cream Ale, a recipe that I made up... After the boil, I only had about 2 gallons of wort (might have forgotten to fly sparge...). I continued to add 3 gallons of cold water into the fermenter. Any ideas how this will effect the end product? I don't think I've ever added this much before so I don't know the effects.

 

[Yooper]

I just tried brewing a 5 gallon batch of Cream Ale, a recipe that I made up... After the boil, I only had about 2 gallons of wort (might have forgotten to fly sparge...). I continued to add 3 gallons of cold water into the fermenter. Any ideas how this will effect the end product? I don't think I've ever added this much before so I don't know the effects.

Well, you'll dilute your wort by half (or more). That might be fine if you planned enough fermentables, but if it was an AG batch your OG may be very very low.

 

[johnnyhaff]

Thanks Yooper - That's what I figured... I think I will follow through with it but start another batch and do it right this time... Didn't get very good efficiency out of the mash (mostly because I forgot to sparge with the 3 gallons I was missing, 65%). It was a nice first try though.