Low original gravity

[brewinginCO]

I just finished getting my second brew into the fermenter. I am a little concerned because my OG was very low. My recipe was:

6 lb pale malt extract
1 lb crystal 40 malt
.5 lb victory malt

The specialty malts were steeped at 160 F for 30 min and then strained into the brew pot. I then boiled this with the malt extract for about 1 hr in about 2.5-3 gallons of water.

After cooling, I poured the wort into the carboy and added distilled water to bring the total to 5 gallons. I tried to shake everything well. My measured OG was 1022 @ 70 degrees. I was expecting it to be closer to 1040

I'm guessing I didn't mix the fresh water with wort enough, hopefully the yeast will do that for me now!

Any other thoughts?
Thanks

 

[Rick_R]

Most likely even with the shaking, it didn't mix uniformly. When using extract, the fermentables are there, so I'd use the calculated value for my OG.

Edit: by that, I mean folks doing AG batches can have a low efficiency mash, but the sugars in the extract are there and unless you accidentally dump them behind the stove there gonna be in the wort.

Rick

 

[brewinginCO]

I have active fermentation this morning

Now I have to decide on what to brew next.