Messed up recipe - fermenting now - what should I do

[mattnday]

Long story short I was brewing a Belgian Dark Strong that should have been about 1.08 going in to the fermenter. Instead it was 1.055ish.

In a nutshell the local home brew shop who I bought the "kit" from neglected to give me the 2 pounds of sugar I needed to complete the recipe.

At this point I am 2 weeks In to the fermentation and well down the path. I am assuming the beer will still be decent but be in the 5% alcohol range instead of 8% which I was targeting.

Should I try and save the beer or bottle it like usual and just see how it turns out.

 

[chickypad]

You could go ahead and add the sugar now dissolved in a little boiled water.

 

[OleGoatBrewing]

You should be fine ether way so its a personal preference You can bottle it up and enjoy - although it may be a little low in ABV for a Belgian Dark. If you can measure the gravity do so and if you're getting anywhere between 5%-6% ABV or better I'd just go with it.

Unless you're going into a secondary fermenter then you could technically add sterile sugar to up the ABV. (Ref: http://blog.eckraus.com/blog/home-brewing-beer-2/homebrew-secondary-fermentation). Good luck tell us how it comes out!

 

[grathan]

Adding sugar after fermentation is the best way anyways because the yeast will attack the maltoise and other tough to digest sugars a second time creating a drier beer.

 

[mattnday]

If I were to add sugar I would do it in the primary and not the secondary, correct?

I was going to rack it on Sunday from the Primary to the secondary 15 days since brew day

 

[chickypad]

If I were to add sugar I would do it in the primary and not the secondary, correct?

I was going to rack it on Sunday from the Primary to the secondary 15 days since brew day

Yes that would be the typical way. It's going to kick up some fermentation. If you're going to use a secondary to age this beer I would let it finish and clear again then rack to something with smaller headspace.

 

[mattnday]

When I add the sugar should I oxygenate again or just put the sugar in and let it be?

 

[grathan]

No, you never add oxygen once there is alcohol.

 

[Hoosierbrewer]

Add Belgian candy sugar, honey, molasses, or something else. Dissolve in water over 180 and then cool and add to primary.