diluting higher gravity beer to a specific abv

[keithfm1]

Say I've got 19 liters of wort that starts at an SG of 1.050. This then ferments down to a final gravity of 1.010, giving me 19 liters of beer at 6.3% ABV. I'm wondering what the formula would be to tell me how much water to add to dilute that enough to give me a final ABV of exactly 5.5%? I'm sure there's some easy formula or math that I'm just not thinking about. What's the right way to do that?

Thanks in advance!

 

[insubordinateK]

Say I've got 19 liters of wort that starts at an SG of 1.050. This then ferments down to a final gravity of 1.010, giving me 19 liters of beer at 6.3% ABV. I'm wondering what the formula would be to tell me how much water to add to dilute that enough to give me a final ABV of exactly 5.5%? I'm sure there's some easy formula or math that I'm just not thinking about. What's the right way to do that?

Thanks in advance!

C1V1 = C2V2

C1 = concentration before
C2 = concentration after
V1 = volume before
V2 = volume after

 

[insubordinateK]

(6.3 %)(19 L) = (5.5 %)x

x = 21.76 L

 

[keithfm1]

Thanks!!

 

[Calder]

Say I've got 19 liters of wort that starts at an SG of 1.050. This then ferments down to a final gravity of 1.010, giving me 19 liters of beer at 6.3% ABV.

First you need to get the original abv right. Going from 1.050 to 1.010 will give you 5.2%

 

[Yankeehillbrewer]

I think most folks will poo-poo the idea of adding water post fermentation, I've never done it myself, but I would suggest looking into how it will affect the beer overall. I can only imagine that It won't just change the ABV, but will water down the beer. Just doesn't seem like a good idea to me.

 

[insubordinateK]

I've never done it myself

Enough said.

 

[Yankeehillbrewer]

Enough said.

so you think it's good idea? Care to elaborate on why so we can all learn something?