Lactose gravity question

[-Liam-]

I brewed my first Milk Stout this evening and was a bit confused by something that happened - When I punched my recipe into Beersmith it gave me a pre-boil gravity of 1.053 and a pre-boil volume of 5.95 gallons. I ended up with 7 gallons in the kettle with a gravity of 1.046. So, i thought because I had undershot my number by so much and had extra wort, I would give it a 90min boil to try and get my number a bit better. The target OG was 1.063 and the recipe called for 1lb of lactose. I got an OG of 1.062 but I'm confused if this is my real gravity or is it just higher because of the lactose? The estimated FG is 1.012, so should this be the number I'm trying to hit or will it be different, again because of the lactose? I'm confused...

 

[wilconrad]

If you had the lactose in the recipe you entered into Beersmith, the gravity estimates it's providing account for the lactose. Looks to me like you hit your OG spot on and you're in good shape.

As you get to know your setup better, you can arrive at a target boil volume to pull so you don't have to adjust your boil time on the fly. For example, for 60 min boils I always pull 6.75 gallons of wort; my system boils off 1.25 gal/hr and I end up with my target volume (I brew 5.5 gal batches).

 

[frazier]

The estimated FG is 1.012, so should this be the number I'm trying to hit or will it be different, again because of the lactose? I'm confused...

Pay no attention to the predicted FG. Yours will undoubtedly be higher; first, because part of your gravity (and yes, it is just as "real" as any other) is due to unfermentable sugar. Those unfermentables will remain in solution and raise the FG. Second, FG predictions are generally done by trained monkeys throwing darts at a board. If you get within shouting distance of 1.020, consider it a success.

Cheers!

 

[wilconrad]

pay no attention to the predicted fg. Yours will undoubtedly be higher; first, because part of your gravity (and yes, it is just as "real" as any other) is due to unfermentable sugar. Those unfermentables will remain in solution and raise the fg. Second, fg predictions are generally done by trained monkeys throwing darts at a board. If you get within shouting distance of 1.020, consider it a success.

Cheers!

+1

 

[-Liam-]

Well, that's a relief! I thought my OG was way too low. I am officially now back to being excited about this batch!

 

[-Liam-]

Thanks for the speedy response btw, guys.