Bad efficiency on an extract kit

[sdenue57]

I just finished brewing the NB Off the Topper kit and my OG was off by about 14 points compared to the stated target. I only hit 1.056 on my OG, their target is 1.070. I added water during the boil to compensate for loss, about 3/4 of a gallon to try keeping my volume around 4 gallons. Could this affect my efficiency? Should I just wait to add water to the fermenter? Any advice is welcome.

 

[brew_ny]

it is hard to get a good mix on extract if you used the correct amount of extract

and your water amount is right then the OG is right also

all the best

S_M

 

[sdenue57]

:smack: Figured it out. Most of the Heady clone recipes I've seen recommend topping up to 6 gallons to account for loss due to dry hopping, this one 5 gallons. Oh well. I guess that means I just brewed Heady Light!!

 

[Bobby_M]

There is no concept of efficiency with extract brewing. You're putting the sugar directly into the mix and it's a fixed amount. It's way more likely you took a sample from a stratified watery area.

 

[sdenue57]

No, the recipe specifically states to add water up to 5 gallons in the fermenter. I added water to a 6 gallon level. Hence the disparity on my OG reading, I think. Maybe if I had only added enough water to reach the 5 gallon mark, I think I would have been closer to the expected OG. But I could be wrong. Hard telling, not knowing. Lol