Had my first brew day this weekend after not brewing for a good number of years. Was doing all-grain before but I no longer have the equipment nor the space, so I'm easing back in with a few extract batches before going back to partial-mash.
In any case, I found a La Fin du Monde clone extract recipe online and I'd never made an abbey ale before so I gave it a try:
Fermentables:
9.15lbs Pilsen LME
1lb Belgian Candi Sugar - clear
1lb Cane Sugar
Steeping:
0.0125lbs Aromatic
0.25lbs Honey Malt
0.1875lbs Munich
Northern Brewer, Styrian Goldings, Hersbrucker, and Saaz
Some orange peel and coriander
White Labs WLP530
Plugged it all into the recipe calculator on Brewer's Friend, said my target OG would be 1.086.
Brew day went well, 3 gallon boil on the stovetop, topped off to 5 gallons in the fermenter, mixed well, and took a gravity reading....
...1.123!!! w/ temperature correction.
I really can't figure out where I went wrong. Ideally, the beer should be fine, I seriously doubt I'll reach my target FG, and it may be overly sweet, but..
Any ideas on how this could happen? I may be rusty, but damn.
---Update---
I made the decision to dump it, as I underpitched the hell out of it anyway, and I was planning on letting it sit long-term in secondary (I'd rather start over and do it right if I'm gonna wait 4 months for it). Before I did, I got out my paddle and whipped the s*** out of it to get it real good and mixed. Took a hydrometer reading, and it was right on the friggin' money. 1.085... I guess I didn't mix it as well as I thought I did when I dumped into the fermenter.
I used to consider myself a decent brewer, but I guess I'm rustier than I thought after 4 years. Feeling more confident now and taking another crack at it this weekend or next. Thanks everyone for the advice!
In any case, I found a La Fin du Monde clone extract recipe online and I'd never made an abbey ale before so I gave it a try:
Fermentables:
9.15lbs Pilsen LME
1lb Belgian Candi Sugar - clear
1lb Cane Sugar
Steeping:
0.0125lbs Aromatic
0.25lbs Honey Malt
0.1875lbs Munich
Northern Brewer, Styrian Goldings, Hersbrucker, and Saaz
Some orange peel and coriander
White Labs WLP530
Plugged it all into the recipe calculator on Brewer's Friend, said my target OG would be 1.086.
Brew day went well, 3 gallon boil on the stovetop, topped off to 5 gallons in the fermenter, mixed well, and took a gravity reading....
...1.123!!! w/ temperature correction.
I really can't figure out where I went wrong. Ideally, the beer should be fine, I seriously doubt I'll reach my target FG, and it may be overly sweet, but..
Any ideas on how this could happen? I may be rusty, but damn.
---Update---
I made the decision to dump it, as I underpitched the hell out of it anyway, and I was planning on letting it sit long-term in secondary (I'd rather start over and do it right if I'm gonna wait 4 months for it). Before I did, I got out my paddle and whipped the s*** out of it to get it real good and mixed. Took a hydrometer reading, and it was right on the friggin' money. 1.085... I guess I didn't mix it as well as I thought I did when I dumped into the fermenter.
I used to consider myself a decent brewer, but I guess I'm rustier than I thought after 4 years. Feeling more confident now and taking another crack at it this weekend or next. Thanks everyone for the advice!
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