Low FG question

[-Liam-]

The last batch I made was a slight variation of Jamil's "Happiness IPA".
I used 12lbs 2 Row
1lbs Crystal 10
3/4lbs Munich malt
1/4lbs Crystal 40.
I used US-05 yeast
I mashed at 149F for between 60 and 90 mins.
My OG was 1.067
I fermented at 67F and I took a reading tonight after 10 days fermentation and got a reading of 1.007. The target FG was 1.012.
Any advice on what I can expect/do etc? (The hydrometer sample doesn't taste that bad)

 

[TheBrewingBear]

You can expect beer.

If your OG was in the expected range, it will just be lighter in body and a higher ABV than your target. I'd let it keep doing it's thing until your FG is stable.

You may want to make sure your mash tun thermometer is accurate. If your mash temp is low, you'll extract more fermentable sugars.

 

[-Liam-]

I checked my thermometer recently and it seems to be pretty accurate. I think the temp in the tun held quite well throughout the mash also. Is 149F too low to mash at? I thought it seemed a little low compared to most other recipes I've looked into. Do you think my final beer will be ok? I was planning to dry hop it with 3oz of hops this weekend.

 

[CBMbrewer]

It's just going to be a dryer beer; it won't have as much residual sweetness as you intended. And the abv will be a bit higher, but it should still be a fine beer. 149 is pretty low, but I mash a lot of ipa's that low. Also, if you did mash for 90 minutes that would create a more ferment able wort as well, as opposed to a 60 minute mash. Next time you can mash just as long as it takes for complete conversion of starches to simple sugars. You can test for conversion by pulling a few ml of the wort (free of grain husks and chunks) and add a drop or two of iodine. If the wort turns black/purple, there is still unconverted starch and you should let it ride a little longer. If the sample doesn't change color, conversion is done.

 

[-Liam-]

Yeh I did an iodine test after about 75 mins or so and then I drained the tun. I only left it that long on the advice of Jamil's book but I should have just checked at 60mins. I had really high hopes for this batch (it's my first time using proper temp control) and I feel slightly disappointed now.

 

[sandyeggoxj]

I don't think it will be bad. The dryness should help to highlight the hops. If you don't like it I'll PM you my address so you can ship it out here.

 

[Natdavis777]

I don't think it will be bad. The dryness should help to highlight the hops. If you don't like it I'll PM you my address so you can ship it out here.

+1. I love my IPAs dry


Sent from my iPhone using Home Brew

 

[HomebrewPadawan]

+2, I agree. It should be great! You brew, you learn.

 

[-Liam-]

Well, these responses are pretty encouraging!
I hopped that grain bill with Nugget, Centennial, Simcoe & Amarillo, and I plan to dry hop with 3oz of Amarillo & Simcoe, so I'm hoping for a juicy in your face IPA.