i'm an extract brewer and i always seem to be shy from the target OG by .005. is there anything i can do to help get closer to the OG or is it always gonna be a little off? i always have vigorous boils and am to the t when it comes to adding ingredients on time.
how do i get closer to the target OG?
- Thread starter teej_810
- Start date
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Did you check your hydrometer in 60 degree distilled water? Maybe your hydrometer is off .005? My second guess is that you're not measuring your water exactly, and are a quart low (or high) in the fermenter.
jason.mundy
BIAB Purist
My quick answer was going to be to use less water.
Yooper makes some great points. Measure your OG at the temperature specified by your hydrometer. If you are measuring at temp other than your calibration temp, use the correction table that came with your hydrometer. You can also use an online tool. http://www.collectionsoft.com/mybrewcollection/hc0.html
You may have too much water. 1.050 at five gallons is 1.045 at 5.5 gallons. A quart up or down will raise or lower you a couple of points.
I doubt this is the case, but you could also be leaving syrup in the can.
Yooper makes some great points. Measure your OG at the temperature specified by your hydrometer. If you are measuring at temp other than your calibration temp, use the correction table that came with your hydrometer. You can also use an online tool. http://www.collectionsoft.com/mybrewcollection/hc0.html
You may have too much water. 1.050 at five gallons is 1.045 at 5.5 gallons. A quart up or down will raise or lower you a couple of points.
I doubt this is the case, but you could also be leaving syrup in the can.
i think i"m pretty close to the 5 gallon mark. I don't think i would be off by a quart or half gallon.
i guess i should check my hydrometer. does it have to be distilled water? and when i get a carboy freed up i:ll check my 5 gallon mark on the carboy
i guess i should check my hydrometer. does it have to be distilled water? and when i get a carboy freed up i:ll check my 5 gallon mark on the carboy
Distilled water is best as there are no minerals that could throw off the reading, although it would be very minimal if at all... unless you live in Scottland or someplace with really hard water.
You can use a little less water or just boil a little longer to get a higher OG.
You can use a little less water or just boil a little longer to get a higher OG.
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Frank99
Well-Known Member
You're worried about .005 ? Give me a break. How does the final product taste like ? We're not sending a shuttle in orbit around Mars. We're making friggin BEER ! Drink up!
