Bumping up ABV

[robc311]

I've read about the various ways to bump up the ABV in beer but I'm not sure which of the methods will be best for my simple light Ale recipe so I'd like to get some input. Here's the recipe I plan to use:

6lbs Ultralight DME
8oz Crystal 15L for steeping
.5oz Cascade 60 min
1oz Cascade 1 min
Safale US-05

The expected ABV is 3.8% but I'd like to increase that to about 4.3%. I don't have more ultralight DME but I do have a pound of Briess Pilsen Light DME. Would that work? I can also get my hands on a pound of corn sugar pretty easily if that would be better.

I was hoping to brew this tomorrow and have it kegged in about a month since I have family coming into town...hope I can make it happen!

 

[davou]

it will absolutely work.

The Pilsen will contribute a bit more protein to the beer.

The Corn sugar will thin the beer and contribute nothing but ABV

 

[ncbrewer]

Maybe too late for feedback, but I'll chime in anyway. If you add more DME, you should increase the hops by the same percent if you want to keep the same bitterness perception. Bitterness perception is based on BU:GU ratio - bitterness units to gravity units. If you've already done this without increasing the hops, it should be ok - just won't seem as bitter as the recipe intended.

Another difference you'll see (if you believe the hop utilization formulas) is that hop utilization depends on boil gravity. With more extract in the boil, gravity will be higher and utilization will be lower. Brewing software predicts the IBU's for you. You can use late extract addition to keep the boil gravity from increasing - add some of the extract at flameout or last 15 minutes of the boil. I prefer at flameout.

 

[robc311]

Thanks for the feedback. I ended up taking longer than I expected to bottle and keg a couple of batches...plus I broke my hydrometer so I haven't brewed it yet. Could I reverse the hop addition to 1oz for 60 and .5 at 1 min if I add the extra pound of DME?

 

[charles]

Sounds like a good recipe. Have you thought about using more hops? Cascades are a versatile hop. I always use them at every aspect of brewing. Have you tried dry hopping in the secondary?

 

[ncbrewer]

I just ran the numbers on this recipe. Assuming you're doing a 5 gallon batch, I get about 5.6% ABV, plus a little that's added with the priming sugar if you bottle. Maybe my assumption of 5 gallons is wrong? Getting this straight would be a good first step.

 

[charles]

I figured it was for 5 gallons, at 1.5oz Cascades your hopping it lightly. Your brew won't be overly hopped if you add more

 

[RM-MN]

Sounds like a good recipe. Have you thought about using more hops? Cascades are a versatile hop. I always use them at every aspect of brewing. Have you tried dry hopping in the secondary?

No, have you tried dry hopping in the primary? It works great and I don't have to deal with a heavy, slippery, dangerous carboy and don't have to mess with racking until I'm ready to bottle. Many of us have quit using or avoided using a secondary with great results. There is little to be gained by using a secondary.:rockin:

 

[Lefou]

You can use store bought, off the shelf pasteurized honey - just add about 8oz. to your wort immediately after the boil and stir in.
Honey is a good way to bump up ABV, dry out your beer, and get a bit of aroma table/corn sugar won't give you. The downside is it's an expensive form of sugar, but if you have it in the kitchen, it's another option. I always have a bottle handy at home to sweeten my tea.
A 5lb. bottle costs about $12-13 at Costco and lasts for months.

 

[robc311]

I just ran the numbers on this recipe. Assuming you're doing a 5 gallon batch, I get about 5.6% ABV, plus a little that's added with the priming sugar if you bottle. Maybe my assumption of 5 gallons is wrong? Getting this straight would be a good first step.

It is a 5 gallon batch. This is the Light Ale kit from Morebeer.com and it says 3.8% ABV for the standard recipe. I thought that adding an extra pound of DME would bump it up to 4.3% but your numbers are quite different. I don't want a hoppy beer...but rather something pretty light and not very hoppy that the BMC crowd would enjoy. I might try adding the extra pound of DME at flame out and leave the hops as is. I'm hoping to brew this Wednesday night once my new hydrometer gets delivered.

 

[robc311]

Sorry posted twice

 

[ncbrewer]

I looked up what I think you kit is: https://www.morebeer.com/products/light-ale-extract-beer-kit.html
Really can't be sure, but my guess is it really is a 3.8% ABV beer, so the extra extract would be fine. Bitterness might be a little on the low side. So you know for sure, you could weigh the DME before brewing. I hope you'll report back on how this turns out. Good luck.