Belgian Wit High OG

[Abe_Froman]

I just brewed a beglian wit that called for a SG of 1.054 - 1.058. I took readings before and after aerating the wort and had an OG of 1.066!! Any explanations outside faulty thermometer or hydrometer? Thanks.

Abe

 

[dwf137]

i had the same issue with my Belgian wit... i hit 1.068, which kinda sucks because I didn't make a starter.

I'm chalking it up to the fact that my primary wasn't fully mixed up, meaning more of the sugars were at the bottom.

I also brewed with honey. Honey is very variable in it's sugar content as there's no real way to measure it.

 

[Abe_Froman]

Thanks for the reply and reassurance. After seeing the initial OG reading I aerated and remeasured to rule out an uneven mixture. I did add 2lbs of honey at 30 minutes left in the boil so maybe that can account for the high gravity. I had 2 liters of starter so will just have to wait and see.

Abe

 

[Abe_Froman]

Was your cooled wort a dark murky brown color?

 

[ArcaneXor]

First of all, make sure to shake the hell out of the wort and draw your hydrometer or refractometer sample while the wort is still agitated. Most OG deviations are due to inadequate mixing.

If it turns out that your OG is truly too high, you can simply dilute with water until you reach your desired OG. Bitterness may end up lower than expected, but for a witbier, that really doesn't matter too much.

Wort is usually murky and medium to dark brown.

 

[BruDaddy]

Adding 2 lbs of honey to the recipe would certainly increase the OG. I don't know the math to say whether it would increase by 0.10, but I'd guess that's what you're seeing.

 

[Abe_Froman]

I poured between the kettle and fermenter three times to mix the solution up after the first reading and got the same reading again. I am not worried so much as this was my first brew solo. Just looking for an explanation. Should I expect a higher FG?

 

[VTBrewer]

If you used a Belgian liquid yeast you may get some pretty good attenuation and get an FG of what you expected, but just go by the 3 day same reading rule.

I wouldn't top up with water to meet my expected OG, just roll with what you got.

 

[COLObrewer]

Remember that honey takes longer to ferment (i.e. months) so be patient also.

 

[Abe_Froman]

The plan is to ferment around 68 degrees for 4 days and bump it up to the low 70s for a few more before taking readings. Thanks for all the good info.