Fermentation Troubles?

[HopSong]

As I've mentioned before.. I'm brand new and opted to buy the Coopers DIY Kit with the Lager LME and the, I believe, dual purpose yeast.. lager/ale.. top/bottom.

Here's my problem... I think the Kit is a valid beginning point for me to learn. I like to concept. I know others use Coopers LME and like it.. so I don't believe these are the problem.

When I started, I didn't think to see if my hydrometer was on point. Mixed the included "sugar" pack with the LME and boiling water and topped off to 23 L. Then I took a SG reading and it was 1.033. Seemed low compared to the different videos I've seen at ~1.040. I used all the sugars and rinsed the can well to get out all of the LME. Stirred well.. but.. 1.033.

After 3.5 days, it's at 1.020.. all brewing has been at 18*C. Wondering, I checked the hydrometer against tap water.. it's pretty good water. The reading was 0.994 at 64*F. That seemed way off 1.000. Checked it against a borrowed hydrometer which read very close 1.000.

So, where am I? Do I back my initial 1.033 off by .006 to get an initial SG of 1.027? Seems VERY LOW. I'm asking MakeBeer for a new hydrometer.. but, I'm confused as to what I can do about this batch. Obviously, I'll let it go to completion and bottle it. BUT, can/should I do anything this far along to up the sugars and let it brew at a higher SG? I'm currently lost.

I guess it'll turn out as a very low alcohol brew.. which is OK by me for a first shot. I don't need high alcohol drinks..

But, for the future, should I have a sack of DME ready to boil up to add to the wort to raise the SG or ???? Lotsa questions.. Ahhh, newbies.. but, then again, maybe many of you started where I am right now..

Thanks for any help... HbgBill

 

[PT Ray]

It's fine. So long you didn't add too much water the O.G. is 1.040 or very close. Let it ferment for at least 10 days and it should turn clear which is a pretty good indicator it's ready for bottling. If it takes longer, ride it out. I'm sure MakeBeer will send another hydrometer if it's inaccurate.

 

[BrewStooge]

About the only way you could end up with a short OG using extract is having too much water when it was topped up. Since you didn't mention hops I'm guessing this was pre-hopped extract? In short, if you add more malt you need to balance it on the other side, otherwise you'll end up with crazy sweet brew.

 

[HopSong]

(BrewStooge) Yes, it's a pre-hopped LME. Followed the instructions t a "T". Topped to 23L per instructions.

(PT Ray) That's my concern.. DID I end up close to 1.040?? Remember, my water with the included hydrometer read .006 below 1.000. Does that mean my OG of 1.033 was really 1.027? That seems pretty dern low.

Still listening....

 

[unionrdr]

Most often,a low OG is the result of not getting the wort/top off water mixed well. Which isn't all that easy to do. I pour my chilled wort into the fermenter through a fine mesh strainer,which helps a lot in aerating it. Then.top off with cold water to the proper level,23L in the case of Cooper's,or 6 gallons. Then,I use my paddle to stir it all for 5 minutes straight. Whip it good!
Then take an OG reading with the hydrometer,& record,always keep good notes.
So,all in all,you'll be fine. Pretty hard to mess up extract brews in that regard. And keep your temps with the cooper's ale yeast down to 65-70F. I've found 68F to be good without too much temp control. I also wait 2 weeks before taking a 1st FG reading. They usually don't finish out as fast as a few days to a week. It def takes longer.
I have pics of the OS lager in my gallery as 1st HB if you want a look at the finished product. The cooper's yeast that comes in the false lid of the OS cans is strictly ale yeast. So you basically get a light pale ale. Not bad,but needs a little aroma/flavor hops. English style hops are good here,or you could use Saaz & Perle or Haulertauer for a more Euro sort of hop flavor.

 

[PT Ray]

DID I end up close to 1.040??

I don't even take O.G. readings on extract batches, I just go by calculated values. Calculated O.G for your beer is 1.040 (Coopers kit, 1kg Dextrose, 23l), it would take adding too much water or pouring half your ingredients on the floor for a 1.033. If neither of those factors exist, you can say with a fair amount of certainty the O.G. is 1.040 or at least within a point or so.

 

[HopSong]

Thanks unionrdr.. That might well be the issue with my perceived low OG. I didn't really stir if.. Guess I figured after pouring five gallons of R/O water into the FV that it would be stirred enough. Reason for first SG test was that the fermentation seemed to have stopped.. NO foam on top. Live and learn.. I guess it's still going... hope so. I'll take another reading about Wednesday using the borrowed glass hydrometer... which seems right on. Hope Make Beer comes thru with an accurate bobber.

 

[HopSong]

I don't even take O.G. readings on extract batches, I just go by calculated values. Calculated O.G for your beer is 1.040 (Coopers kit, 1kg Dextrose, 23l), it would take adding too much water or pouring half your ingredients on the floor for a 1.033. If neither of those factors exist, you can say with a fair amount of certainty the O.G. is 1.040 or at least within a point or so.

Thanks Ray.. that may be well what I have to assume. Despite the fact that it's green.. it does have a good flavor.. I think it'll be very good. I sort of got familiar with potentials with wine when I worked at a winery. Got to serve barrel tastings.. and the wines were almost ready to be bottled.. but, you could definitely taste the qualities and get a great idea of what it would be like by tasting the prior years vintage. I think this lager will have just a right amount of hoppiness.. Looking forward to starting an Am. Amber Ale when this gets bottled in a couple of weeks. I think my son will be visiting from AZ and we'll get a chance to do it together.

 

[BrewStooge]

Most often,a low OG is the result of not getting the wort/top off water mixed well.

It's been so long since I did a pure extract partial boil batch I'd forgotten about that! +1 on that being the issue.