First Brew - Epic Fail or Can it be Saved?

[TheDylster]

Hi all. Been lurking on the forums for awhile, such an amazing resource of knowledgable people.

My dilemma. 16 days ago I brewed up a 5 gallon extract kit. I followed directions but didn't realize I was running out of time (boys championship football game...oops!). I started with 6.5 gallons but boiled off signifficantly and was left with about 3.5 gallons of wort. With time running out before I had to leave, I got the wort down to around 95 degrees, poured to fermenter, pitched yeast and have left it ever since.

I know temp was too high for yeast pitch but I did get good activity in the airlock for the next couple of days. What I completely failed to do is top the wort up with water to the 5 gallons!!

Can this be saved by topping it up now? Just roll with what I have? I'm ready to transfer to keg so any advice is welcome.

I did another 5 gallon bextract brew this past weekend with much better results (properly cooled wort for pitching and 5 gallons of actual wort!!).

Thanks.

 

[McKnuckle]

Chalk it up to a learning experience... You pitched yeast way too hot, which will probably not be very tasty. And the very significant extra boil-off means you have a high alcohol final product relative to what the kit intended. It may also be sweet, depending on how high the original gravity was with respect to the yeast's ability to finish its meal.

If you dilute now, you risk oxidation and infection and, while you will be able to adjust gravity/ABV down to a more reasonable level, you'll also be diluting the flavor (which may be a good thing!).

Taste this creature first, and see what you have. Chances are that saving your keg for the batch that came afterwards is your best bet.

 

[Rob2010SS]

Chalk it up to a learning experience... You pitched yeast way too hot, which will probably not be very tasty. And the very significant extra boil-off means you have a high alcohol final product relative to what the kit intended. It may also be sweet, depending on how high the original gravity was with respect to the yeast's ability to finish its meal.

If you dilute now, you risk oxidation and infection and, while you will be able to adjust gravity/ABV down to a more reasonable level, you'll also be diluting the flavor (which may be a good thing!).

Taste this creature first, and see what you have. Chances are that saving your keg for the batch that came afterwards is your best bet.

+1 ^. Best advice you can probably get for this situation.