Just finished a batch of Citra IPA extract kit from NB. Target OG was 1.050 and I came in at 1.046. I think I left too much of the wort in the brew kettle. I was trying to prevent the hop sludge from entering the fermenter and left too much of the wort behind. Should I be concerned?
Missed my OG
- Thread starter Phitz
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Nobody’s going to taste your beer and say “this tastes like you were 4 points low”. Assuming the beer finishes around 1.010, the difference in ABV will be about .5%. RDWHAHB.
Leaving wort behind won't impact your og. If an extract kit came in lower Og it is likely either you added too much water or didn't boil off at the same rate as was expected by the recipe. As Grampamark says, really nothing to worry about!
jrgtr42
Well-Known Member
I'd call 10 points to be missing the OG, especially on an extract kit. 4 points is within the range of error, depending on amount started with, amount ending, possible inaccuracy in the hydrometer, and a few other factors.
Was this all extract or was there steeping grain involved as well?
OG could also be low because the sugars are heavy, and the wort doesn't always mix well. If you take a gravity reading from the top, you could get a low reading.
Why didn't you want the 'sludge' in the fermenter? It will end up at the bottom of the fermenter at the end of fermentation.
Don't use sugar to 'correct' a shortfall in OG (maybe with a high gravity Belgian). Use light/Pale extract, that way you don't dry-out/thin the beer, and you keep the malt balance, FG, and flavor in the range of the original recipe.
Why didn't you want the 'sludge' in the fermenter? It will end up at the bottom of the fermenter at the end of fermentation.
Don't use sugar to 'correct' a shortfall in OG (maybe with a high gravity Belgian). Use light/Pale extract, that way you don't dry-out/thin the beer, and you keep the malt balance, FG, and flavor in the range of the original recipe.
VikeMan
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It does if you top off to full batch volume in the fermenter, which is the way a lot of extract batches are done.
I took the reading after aerating the wort from the spigot on the bucket. I used 4.5 oz of hops in the boil and it seemed like a lot to add to fermenter. I thought I was supposed to attempt to prevent excessive amounts from going in the fermenter.
Ah, good point that! Not an extract brewer so never thought of that possibility!
