Gravity check

[sysera]

Hey all,

Learned a lot from lurking here so far. I just did a brew, what does everyone read this gravity as? I need a reality check. :rockin:

Thanks guys.

 

[northernlad]

1.150. Is there enough fluid in there for it to float?
AG? Extract? Did you top off to target batch size?

 

[sysera]

1.150. Is there enough fluid in there for it to float?

Yup, sure is. I also tried two different hydrometers. Both read at or around 1.150 at 80F.

Way way way way higher than it was supposed to be lol.

This was an extract kit, True Brew Bavarian Hefewiezen.

Edit: It was supposed to be 1.045 LOL

 

[Wade E]

Wow, now thats a high gravity beer!

 

[Rentachik]

I read 1.148. Still pretty rough though. Wonder what that'll ferment down to?

 

[ChshreCat]

Your extract isn't mixed in completely and you got a very concentrated sample. There's no way to miss your OG by that much unless you forgot to top up with any water or something. So long as you used all the ingredients, followed the instructions and topped up to 5 gallons (assuming it's a kit for a 5g batch) you're OG is what it was supposed to be.

 

[sysera]

I read 1.148. Still pretty rough though. Wonder what that'll ferment down to?

Yeah, it's around there.

Luckily, I split the batch between two fermenters and had intended to from the beginning, in order to try two different yeasts.

I pitched one with Safbrew WB-06 and the other with WLP380. So both batches got a little bit bigger pitch rate. Hoping that helps make up for the ridiculous BG.

 

[sysera]

Your extract isn't mixed in completely and you got a very concentrated sample. There's no way to miss your OG by that much unless you forgot to top up with any water or something. So long as you used all the ingredients, followed the instructions and topped up to 5 gallons (assuming it's a kit for a 5g batch) you're OG is what it was supposed to be.

Sure, entirely possible. But I can tell you for sure, I mixed the extract additions VERY VERY well.

This was 1.5 gallons of water in the boil. Per the instructions. And I agree, I thought the same thing, how is it possible I'm soooo off the instructions suggested BG, with an extract kit!

 

[Revvy]

What's your recipe?

 

[ChshreCat]

Are you saying the sample came from your boil kettle with 1.5g of water? Or from your fermenter after topping up with more water to 5g?

 

[sysera]

What's your recipe?

It was:
1.5 gallons brought to boil
Add 1 can wheat LME, 1 oz Liberty hops
Boil 30
Add 1 can wheat LME, 1 oz Liberty hops
Boil 15
Flame out.

 

[sysera]

Are you saying the sample came from your boil kettle with 1.5g of water? Or from your fermenter after topping up with more water to 5g?

Kettle! I think you just nailed it. Wrong time to take the reading. Like I said, I'm new and lurking haha!

Now that it's established that I'm a complete fool. Is there a way to figure out the real bg?

 

[Revvy]

<------- Totally lost as to this thread...

Chesire are you saying this is the graivty pre-top off?

 

[ChshreCat]

<------- Totally lost as to this thread...

Chesire are you saying this is the graivty pre-top off?

Yep. It's a partial boil and he took his sample from the kettle before topping up. I thought it was something like that.

 

[sysera]

Yep. It's a partial boil and he took his sample from the kettle before topping up. I thought it was something like that.

I'm glad you said something. Like I said before, I could not possibly fathom how my reading was so far off, considering it's an extract kit. I'm glad to know I didn't complete hose anything. Other than being a complete noob.

 

[ChshreCat]

You say you split it between two fermenters... how did you do the split? Pour half into each and top each one up to 2.5? Or pour it all into one fermenter, top up to 5 gallons and then transfer half to another fermenter?

 

[sysera]

You say you split it between two fermenters... how did you do the split? Pour half into each and top each one up to 2.5? Or pour it all into one fermenter, top up to 5 gallons and then transfer half to another fermenter?

I split it into each, and topped up to 2.5. I'm guessing you're going to say I should have done it the other way, aren't you?

 

[homebeerbrewer]

I split it into each, and topped up to 2.5. I'm guessing you're going to say I should have done it the other way, aren't you?

Nah, the way you did it will work, just not an exact equal. Maybe pretty close, which is good enough, but I don't think it'll be exactly the same.

As for finding the correct OG, if you pitched within about 12 hours, you should still be able to get an accurate reading. Once you start getting krausen, you might not get the right OG, but it'll be close.

 

[ChshreCat]

Actually, if you did it the other way, I was going to warn you that one might be higher OG than the other. The way you did it, it's probably closer than it would be otherwise. When you add your top up water, it NEVER mixes up completely no matter what you do. So if you put it all in one, topped up and then poured off half, you'd have one with a much higher OG than the other becuase most of the concentrated wort would sink to the bottom of the first fermenter.

 

[sysera]

Actually, if you did it the other way, I was going to warn you that one might be higher OG than the other. The way you did it, it's probably closer than it would be otherwise. When you add your top up water, it NEVER mixes up completely no matter what you do. So if you put it all in one, topped up and then poured off half, you'd have one with a much higher OG than the other becuase most of the concentrated wort would sink to the bottom of the first fermenter.

Okay cool. Good to know. I did double-check my gravity, since I just pitched an hour or two ago, and it looks like all is well. 1.045 just like it should be.

btw, no flag no country, you can't have one.

 

[homebeerbrewer]

I disagree Cat, if he stirred it while adding the top-off water to 5 gallons, it would be thoroughly mixed. Then if he split the two, they would be exactly the same. The way he did it introduces a lot of variables. One could have a slightly higher level of wort, and the other can have a slightly higher level of water.

Either way, you'll be close. This isn't rocket science, and everything doesn't have to be 100% on the money, so don't worry if one is a point or two higher that the other. It'll still be beer.

 

[sysera]

I disagree Cat, if he stirred it while adding the top-off water to 5 gallons, it would be thoroughly mixed. Then if he split the two, they would be exactly the same. The way he did it introduces a lot of variables. One could have a slightly higher level of wort, and the other can have a slightly higher level of water.

Either way, you'll be close. This isn't rocket science, and everything doesn't have to be 100% on the money, so don't worry if one is a point or two higher that the other. It'll still be beer.

FWIW, I measured, my remaining water into equal parts, and my wort into equal parts while adding into the fermenters. They were indeed identical, volume wise. The wort was also stirred very well when adding LME and hops, so I'm thinking they should both be in pretty equal standing.

Splitting it into two was a little bit confusing for sure and no doubt the reason for my first boneheaded OG measurement as well. I just for some reason felt compelled to try two different yeasts AND on top of it, it was my first opportunity to purchase active liquid pitchable yeast locally, I couldn't pass it up after using dry yeast until now.

 

[homebeerbrewer]

I'm not saying that you screwed up in any way, just that splitting the batch before topping off reduces the chance of being 100% equal. I doubt that the numbers would be far enough apart for it to matter on the finished product, so don't sweat it. And, you're using two different yeasts, so there's even less chance to notice any slight difference in the starting gravity in the final product.

 

[sysera]

I'm not saying that you screwed up in any way, just that splitting the batch before topping off reduces the chance of being 100% equal. I doubt that the numbers would be far enough apart for it to matter on the finished product, so don't sweat it. And, you're using two different yeasts, so there's even less chance to notice any slight difference in the starting gravity in the final product.

I know, I was just saying I evened everything up as close as possible.

I'm really interested to see what the differences between the two are going to be. So far I've done an Amber and a Belgian, now the Hefe, and I've been really pleased with the outcome and enjoy the process quite a bit.

 

[ChshreCat]

I disagree Cat, if he stirred it while adding the top-off water to 5 gallons, it would be thoroughly mixed.

Try this some time. Boil up an extract partial boil batch. Cool it down and pour it in your fermenter. Then top up with water. Give it a good stir to mix it. Then wait about one minute and take a hydrometer sample from the top inch and another from the bottom inch. I bet you a sixer of my next batch that they won't be the same.

 

[homebeerbrewer]

Try this some time. Boil up an extract partial boil batch. Cool it down and pour it in your fermenter. Then top up with water. Give it a good stir to mix it. Then wait about one minute and take a hydrometer sample from the top inch and another from the bottom inch. I bet you a sixer of my next batch that they won't be the same.

I will. In fact, I have 6.5 lbs of LME that I need to use, so it sounds like a plan. Of course, I'll need to rack from the top down to be able to get a sample from the bottom, but the top will be easy enough.

I'm not doubting your logic. Higher gravity liquid is heavier than lower gravity liquid. But water soluble sugar will mix throughout when stirred.

I'll PM you with my address when I get the results. I'm looking forward to that 6er...

 

[ChshreCat]

I will. In fact, I have 6.5 lbs of LME that I need to use, so it sounds like a plan. Of course, I'll need to rack from the top down to be able to get a sample from the bottom, but the top will be easy enough.

I'm not doubting your logic. Higher gravity liquid is heavier than lower gravity liquid. But water soluble sugar will mix throughout when stirred.

I'll PM you with my address when I get the results. I'm looking forward to that 6er...

Deal! I'm always up for a good experiment and will happily hand over the beer if I lose.

Now, no extrodinary mixing techniques here. No stickin' the boat motor in for 20 minutes. Just a good hard stir like you normally might and then give it a minute to settle. It'll separate out some.

That's why so many people post on here trying to figure out why their extract brew's SG is so far above or below what the recipe says it should be.

Either way, you should take plenty of pics and post the results to the brew science area or something. It'd be a good thing to have.

 

[homebeerbrewer]

Ok, I'll do it next weekend. I don't want to waste a batch of beer, so I need to buy yeast, and I won't be able to get to the LHBS until Thursday.

I'll use my bottling bucket to take a sample from the top and bottom before putting it into my carboy. The spigot will be the bottom sample, and I'll use a turkey baster for the top sample. I won't stir before I take the sample, just let it mix naturally when adding the top-off water.

This is going to be interesting.

 

[ChshreCat]

If you really want to test it out, do a couple samples with just pouring the wort and then the water in, then do a couple after stirring a bit. But you're still wanting to drink this and that might be pushing the contamination risk a bit doing that many samples.

 

[northernlad]

To add to the debate...
If you split the wort evenly and added equal amounts of top off water to the seperate batches it would be more accurate more often than mixing then splitting.