Fixing original gravity after pitching yeast

[Cliff Cascais]

I brewed my first batch of beer on thursday. My original gravity before I added the yeast was 1.038 which should have been around 1.052 according to the instructions. Not realizing that it was low I added the yeast and it has been in the fermentation process for about three days. Is it to late to adjust the original gravity. I have extra LME at home.

 

[LLBeanJ]

No, it's not too late.

 

[Easycreeper]

As LLBeanJ said, it's not too late. Make sure to account for the additional volume into the fermentor since you'll be boiling the LME briefly.

 

[S-Met]

Congrats on first brew.
Before adding lme, couple of questions.
Was this a kit?
Did you follow the recipe exactly?
Extract?
What size batch?
What was the temp of the wort when you took your original gravity?

 

[PADave]

Was your brew extract? If so, and you used the correct volume of water, then your OG was correct. Very common for extract to not get thoroughly mixed.

 

[Cliff Cascais]

Congrats on first brew.
Before adding lme, couple of questions.
Was this a kit?
Did you follow the recipe exactly?
Extract?
What size batch?
What was the temp of the wort when you took your original gravity?

Yes this a kit for 5 gallons. I did not take the temp of the wort when I tested the OG but now I know I should have. I believe I followed the directions. I think to much water was added to the wort when I topped off in primary fermenter.

 

[Cliff Cascais]

Yes this a kit for 5 gallons. I did not take the temp of the wort when I tested the OG but now I know I should have. I believe I followed the directions. I think to much water was added to the wort when I topped off in primary fermenter.

What would be a good amount of LME to add? 1lb?

 

[RM-MN]

Yes this a kit for 5 gallons. I did not take the temp of the wort when I tested the OG but now I know I should have. I believe I followed the directions. I think to much water was added to the wort when I topped off in primary fermenter.

To get that low of an OG by adding too much water you would likely overflow your pot. It is common to get a low reading on the hydrometer when doing an extract batch where you add top off water. Accept the estimated OG of the kit as accurate.

 

[Cliff Cascais]

To get that low of an OG by adding too much water you would likely overflow your pot. It is common to get a low reading on the hydrometer when doing an extract batch where you add top off water. Accept the estimated OG of the kit as accurate.

So does this mean I should be ok

 

[S-Met]

I'm asking a few questions because extract kits are relatively fool-resistant when the recipe is followed. I have never purchased a kit, but I thought the come with premeasured quantities. Where is the extra LME from? Extra from the kit or from other purchase?

Just confirming sequences: you took your OG reading from a sample taken from your primary fermenter? Was this after top off water was added? If so, did you mix thoroughly after adding? Since h2o is less dense than wort it may take some time to reach an equilibrium.

You did not check the temp of your sample at gravity, but can you give an estimate? Room temp-ish? Warm samples will give a lower gravity than room temp.

 

[S-Met]

And what size was your boil kettle and approx. how much top-off h2o did you add?

Sorry for so many questions, but would hate to tell you to add anything when your recipe is fine.

 

[Cliff Cascais]

The size of the kettle is 5 gallons. Yes I took the OG from the primary fermenter after I topped off with water. I did not stir after adding water. The wort was at room temp. Thanks for reply.

 

[S-Met]

I would not do anything further then. Probably all good. Most likely, incomplete mixing from top-off water altering gravity of your sample. If you were to mix and re-sample, would probably be close to norm. I do not feel it's worth wasting sample volume though.

 

[flars]

It's going on 15 years since I last measured the SG of an extract brew. When all the fermentables are used and the volume in the fermentor is correct the specific gravity will be as given in the recipe.

It will definitely benefit your brewing experience to mark the 5 gallon level in your fermentors. Pour a measured 5 gallons into the first fermentor, mark the level, then siphon to your second (and third, fourth?) to reuse the Same 5 gallons.

You pitched the yeast at room temperature. Do you have some temperature control for the fermenting beer? Yeast produces heat. You can expect a 3° to 7°F temperature rise in the fermentor with a moderate gravity beer.

Good brewing to you forever.