Low OG

[cyberjoey80]

Howdy all. I just made my first lager. I have been trying IPA's but since I just got a project fridge, decided to try something new. Anyway, my OG was a little low (compared to the normal 1.055-1.065 for IPA's) at 1.035. My ingredients were:

7 lbs. Pale Malt Extract (DME)
1/2 lb. Cara-Munich grain
1/2 lb. Cara-Vienne grain
1/4 lb. Crystal 120L
1/4 lb. Victory grain
1/2 oz. Northern Brewer hops (boil)
1/2 oz. Northern Brewer hops (mid-boil)
1 oz. Tettnang hops (finish)
German Lager or Oktoberfest Yeast

Just wondered if someone with some larger lager experience thought this was the norm. I am thinking this will be a low abv beer. Thanks all.:cross:

 

[RoaringBrewer]

There is no way you should be at 1.035 with 7lb. DME in 5 gallons...

BeerSmith says you should be around 1.063 with that much DME...

Sure the hydrometer isn't broken? Or did you brew 10 gallons or something?

 

[the_bird]

... or didn't stir the wort before taking the reading? Sugars tend to sink...

 

[cyberjoey80]

Hey guys..i think you nailed it. First, I forgot to adjust the 7 lbs. That was for extract so I used 6 lbs of DME. Second, no I think I did'nt stir the wort and it had been sitting for about 5-7 minutes. I just dunked in a sanitary beaker and finished pitching and cleaning up before taking the reading. I don't think anything is messed up as usually homebrewers panic way to soon but I'll probably dip in and take another reading soon. Thanks.:rockin:

 

[cyberjoey80]

Oh yeah...and I am sure the hydrometer is not broken but I just realized that my thermometer got the little round head twisted and it could have been out of calibration. I think it might have been off a couple of points.

 

[RoaringBrewer]

Yeah, it's hard to miss your OG (definitely by as much as you claimed you did) when you are doing extract... I know in my 10 extract batches (steeping grain, dme, whole hops extract) that I rarely miss my OG by more than .02-.04...


BeerSmith says your OG should have been 1.052 with that much DME in 5 gallons. I think your Oktoberfest will turn out just fine @ around 5% ABV.