My ABV seems too low

[bunggo]

Hi.

So, this is my first batch of beer. It is a red ale and supposed to have an ABV of 5.25% - 5.75%. Here is my schedule so far:
Sunday: Brewed the beer, storing in bathtub (ambient air is 70F-75F)
Monday: Bubbling like crazy
Tuesday: Still bubbling, slowed down
Wednesday: 20 seconds between bubbles
Thursday: 30 seconds between bubbles
Friday: 40 seconds between bubbles
Saturday: Longer than 40 (no measurement taken), but I think it was about a minute.

So, today is Saturday. When I talked to the person I know who brews, they said it would probably be fine to transfer to the secondary now. The beer smelled pretty good when I opened it up. I transfered my beer to a secondary fermenter. When I took the ABV rating, it was 4.86%, which is too low. What does one do in this case? Should I pitch in a little more yeast? Will the residual yeast in the beer raise this value? Is this OK?

Thanks,
Tom

 

[danielinva]

What were your hydrometer readings?

 

[Vuarra]

You have beer.

I'd prolly just wait another 3 - 6 weeks, and see what happens in the secondary. Nevertheless, you should be okay.

 

[Jud]

Need a little more information. Where you using a extract kit, partial, or all grain. Do you have a hydrometer? If so what was your starting a finishing gravity reading?

 

[bunggo]

What were your hydrometer readings?

It started out at 1.051. When I took my reading before putting it into the carboy, it was 1.014.

I used a Brewer's Best Red Ale kit.

 

[danielinva]

Leave it where it is. The yeast may still be working slowly, or it might be finished. Either way you should be fine to just leave it for 2-4 weeks and then bottle or keg.

 

[android]

if it drops a few more points in secondary, then you will pick up a bit more ABV. but 4.86 really isn't that far off from 5.25, so i wouldn't sweat it. just do as others have suggested and leave it in secondary for a few weeks and it'll be a fine beer i'm sure.