Great efficiency or boiled too long?

[jzimpleman]

I brewed a maibock today and it was a great brew day. Recipe figured 75% efficiency and a 6 gallon batch size with a OG of 1.068. I wound up with 5 gallons in the fermenter and an OG of 1.080.

This is only my third all grain and my previous two had OG's well below their target. I did use a new Barley Mill and had better temp control along with a slower, hotter fly sparge. I did boil a bit before adding the hops and starting the clock b/c it seemed that the sparge used more water than expected. The kettle I used today doesn't have level marks so I had to guess.

My concern is that I may have boiled it down too much since I only have right at 5 gallons in the fermenter. It's in the fermentation fridge cooling to pitching temp, so I could add some water to get it closer to 5.5 gallons. This would, of course lower the OG to closer to recipe.

Is it wise, or leave as is and have another home brew?

 

[rgreenberg2000]

1.068 in 6 gallons is 1.082 in 5 gallons, so looks like your efficiency was right where you expected it to be. Consistency is a good thing. Just need to figure out where you went wrong with your volumes.

You could certainly top up the water to six gallons (presuming you have appropriately prepared water to do so), or you could just let it ride. I tend to not fuss with things once they are in the fermenter, so my choice would be the latter.

In the meantime, commence RDWHAHB!

Rich

 

[Yooper]

A 8.6+% maibock is a bit "big" for me. I'd add some distilled or RO or otherwise chlorine free water to it, to get to where you expected at 1.068.

 

[tennesseean_87]

+1 for diluting. I do it all the time. If it's too late, dissolve your priming sugar in 1 gallon of water (calculate sugar based on 6 gal batch).

 

[jzimpleman]

Thanks for your input. I added 3/4 gallon of distilled water to get to.6 gallons and the OG was now at 1.074. Still higher than the recipe but much closer than before.

Can't wait to see how it turns out, but it'll be a while. Not sure lagers will be for me - all this waiting!

 

[tennesseean_87]

Thanks for your input. I added 3/4 gallon of distilled water to get to.6 gallons and the OG was now at 1.074. Still higher than the recipe but much closer than before.

Can't wait to see how it turns out, but it'll be a while. Not sure lagers will be for me - all this waiting!

Just get some ales finished up first. I'm planning two lagers for my next brew day, but I just did a Saison and a steam beer to fill up the pipeline, so I can afford to be patient!