High OG IPA

[uniconfis]

I brewed a pike IPA kit from Midwest last night. The kit contained 2lbs DME 6lbs LME 2lbs grains and hops. When I took my gravity reading last night it read 1.070 at 74 degrees. The target OG is 1.058-62. Now I know that many will say that I didn't stir well enough but when I enter the ingredients into separate calculators I get a target OG of around 1.072. I'll be taking another reading today to verify cause I really didn't want to start a HG beer just yet. Do the LHBS miscalculate from time to time?

 

[FlyingHorse]

Looks like maybe they don't (or didn't) count the steeping grains?

I'd email or call them and ask.

If you're worried about the OG and have room in your primary, add a half-gallon of preboiled cooled water. You could throw a few bittering hops in (and some ME to help them isomerize), if you want to make up for your lower utilization and the added water, but it probably won't matter that much.

Personally, I'd just go with the higher OG.

 

[brewt00l]

Likely the difference is steeping grains (no fermentable addition) and calculating the 2lbs of grain as fermentable content via mashing.

 

[PseudoChef]

Just with the 2 lbs DME and 6 lbs LME I'm getting and O.G. of 1.058 in BeerTools. I'm assuming the extra grains are for steeping, so they won't impart any fermentables into the wort.

 

[FlyingHorse]

Steeped grains can impart fermentable sugars and raise the OG -- depends on the grain. Given that it's an IPA recipe, the steeped grains are probably Crystal, and 8+ points from 2 lbs in a 5-gallon batch isn't out of the question.

http://www.howtobrew.com/section2/chapter13-2.html

 

[PseudoChef]

Steeped grains can impart fermentable sugars and raise the OG -- depends on the grain. Given that it's an IPA recipe, the steeped grains are probably Crystal, and 8+ points from 2 lbs in a 5-gallon batch isn't out of the question.

http://www.howtobrew.com/section2/chapter13-2.html

I didn't know that, thanks for the correction!

 

[uniconfis]

I'll stick with the HG for sure. I just wanted to have a better yeast starter ready and better means of oxidation. The starter I made was small and I may pickup another activator pack to ensure a thorough fermentation. I'll be sure to send Midwest and email and get their opinion.

PseudoChef: The grains were for steeping. Here are the grains: 8 oz Munich malt, 8 oz, carapils malt, 1 lb British 50-60 L malt

 

[brewt00l]

Steeped grains can impart fermentable sugars and raise the OG -- depends on the grain. Given that it's an IPA recipe, the steeped grains are probably Crystal, and 8+ points from 2 lbs in a 5-gallon batch isn't out of the question.

http://www.howtobrew.com/section2/chapter13-2.html

Sure...run the numbers though and you can see where they came up with the target OG.

 

[lackofstyl]

Did you end up with 5 gallons after the boil? If you had less the boil off will raise the OG as well

 

[Dude]

Did you end up with 5 gallons after the boil? If you had less the boil off will raise the OG as well

Yeah, I'm guessing he took the hydro reading before topping off to get up to 5 gallons. Also, the hydro correction needs to be factored in as well.

And OP, pitch the yeast and RDWHAHB. I sure hope you aren't waiting to pitch the yeast just because your OG was off by a few points.

 

[uniconfis]

I did top off to 5 gallons before my reading. I have the bucket market to make sure. I'm not too worried but thought I'd get some feedback. I pitched the yeast last night and I'll just sit back and watch the magic happen.

 

[TheJadedDog]

I've been having some weird OG issues lately as well. My Oktoberfest came out low and my Fat and Tired came out high. I'm attributing it to variances in the steeping grains and evaporation since they both used the exact same amount of DME and had the exact same OG calculation in ProMash. I followed the same process for both and one had an OG of 1.052, the other 1.060 (calculated was 1.056).

 

[WOP31]

Looks like you are going to have a good ~7% IPA, i took the numbers right of of Midwest's site and came up with this report from the Beer Recipator, I'm at work and can't plug it into Promash, but this is just as good:

Beer: - Style: India Pale Ale
Type: Extract w/grain Size: 5 gallons
Color: 40 HCU (~19 SRM)
Bitterness: 82 IBU
OG: 1.068 FG: 1.010
Alcohol: 7.5% v/v (5.8% w/w)
Grain:
8 oz. American Munich
1 lb. American crystal 60L
8 oz. Dextrine malt (Cara-Pils)
Boil:
minutes SG 1.056 6 gallons
6 lb. Amber malt extract
2 lb. Amber dry malt extract
Hops:
2 oz. Chinook (12% AA, 60 min.)
.5 oz. Kent Goldings (5% AA, 15 min.)
.5 oz. Kent Goldings (aroma)

Looks like the gravity and the IBU's come out a little high, and they have a couple of more hop variaties (you can read what they use on their Website) But you should have a good IPA, none the less.

Cheers

 

[WOP31]

I've been having some weird OG issues lately as well. My Oktoberfest came out low and my Fat and Tired came out high. I'm attributing it to variances in the steeping grains and evaporation since they both used the exact same amount of DME and had the exact same OG calculation in ProMash. I followed the same process for both and one had an OG of 1.052, the other 1.060 (calculated was 1.056).

Did you use the same brand and type of extract? Some times the amount of fermentables can vary depending on the brand and method of drying.

Cheers

 

[uniconfis]

Did you use the same brand and type of extract? Some times the amount of fermentables can vary depending on the brand and method of drying.

Thanks wop31. That is a high IBU, which is fine since I do like bitter beers. Looks to end up strong too. Hope I got enough yeast to finish the job.

 

[TheJadedDog]

Did you use the same brand and type of extract? Some times the amount of fermentables can vary depending on the brand and method of drying.

Cheers

Same brand and type of extract, Muntons Extra Light DME, I use it in all my brews.

 

[Trencher]

I made an Imperial Stout a couple weeks ago that came out at 1.080 OG and a single Wyeast Smack Pack did the job just fine, although it took several days. In fact, that was the first batch I had coming through the airlock. So, don't worry about it!

 

[uniconfis]

So I emailed Midwest about the discreptancy in OG and they already got back to me. I've very impressed with this LHBS as they are always very helpful.
My Email:
I brewed your Pike's India Pale Kit last night and ended up with a OG of 1.072. The target OG of 1.058-62 was listed on the directions. I entered the ingredients into two separate calculators and both came up with a OG of 1.070. Is it possible your calculation is incorrect or do you calculate your gravity differently? Thanks for you help.

Midwest reply:
Sometimes people will end up a little higher is SG from time to time from what we list on the instructions. What usually causes that is some of the recipe's are older and grain malting has changed dramatically in the last few years. Sometimes a grain will produce better sugar conversion then what was normal in the past. Even the computer programs can have a hard time with these changes, so a number may vary from time to time. I'd believe that in your case, the more modified grain just got a better sugar conversion then what we used to get in the past. This usually isn't a big deal on most of our kits because there isn't enough grains in them to make a difference. But, Pike's has a fair amount of grains and that leads to more sugars from those grains. Just a sign of the times on this one.
Cheers!

If this is the case then how old is that recipe

 

[Engelramm]

I read the email response and immediately thought, "YUCK, the kit must be really old". Then I re-read it and they say the recipe is old. Ahhh.

 

[uniconfis]

I read the email response and immediately thought, "YUCK, the kit must be really old". Then I re-read it and they say the recipe is old. Ahhh.

That funny cause I thought the exact same thing at first until I re-read it.

 

[WOP31]

That's cool that they got back to you so quick like that. It always good to here about good customer service from a HBS, much better than the rash of "Don't Shop Here" threads we have had lately.

Cheers