Hi - I'm a newbie that just finished bottling my first batch today.
I have a question though: on the "kit" I used (which was created/assembled from my lhbs) the target OG was 1.048. Mine turned out to be 1.036. Target FG was 1.012, mine was 1.018. I waited longer to bottle than the instructions said (I had closed fermentation, and based on my reading that seemed to be ok). My beer was in a carboy for almost 3 weeks.
Based on the calculators available online, my beer is going to be pretty weak from an alcohol % standpoint. I can live with that, however I'm wondering what I might have done wrong that created such a low OG. Also, should I have left the beer in my primary longer? I was afraid to thief out some beer and do a hydrometer test before bottling...I didn't want to risk contaminating it...perhaps I was too timid first time out.
Oh well, it's not the end of the world. I would like to get a clearer understanding of what might have happened and how to avoid it on my next batch...
Frankly, I'm relieved it tasted okay. So far, it isn't ruined.
Thanks for any thoughts ya'll can provide.
I have a question though: on the "kit" I used (which was created/assembled from my lhbs) the target OG was 1.048. Mine turned out to be 1.036. Target FG was 1.012, mine was 1.018. I waited longer to bottle than the instructions said (I had closed fermentation, and based on my reading that seemed to be ok). My beer was in a carboy for almost 3 weeks.
Based on the calculators available online, my beer is going to be pretty weak from an alcohol % standpoint. I can live with that, however I'm wondering what I might have done wrong that created such a low OG. Also, should I have left the beer in my primary longer? I was afraid to thief out some beer and do a hydrometer test before bottling...I didn't want to risk contaminating it...perhaps I was too timid first time out.
Oh well, it's not the end of the world. I would like to get a clearer understanding of what might have happened and how to avoid it on my next batch...
Frankly, I'm relieved it tasted okay. So far, it isn't ruined.
Thanks for any thoughts ya'll can provide.