I confess to being a newbie, but I'm in the right forum for that
I've always strictly adhered to me recipes by doing one week in the primary (bucket) and 1 week in the secondary (carboy) then bottle. I messed up somehow on this batch by getting a low OG after the boil, it was supposed to be 1.049 and I had 1.043. On top of that I used a yeast I'd never used before, the recipe called for White Labs 320 which I have read is a slow starter and long working strain.
So what I did was wait over 10 days before transferring to the carboy since there was still activity in the airlock at the 1-week point which I've never had before. When I did that I measured 1.018 which says I get a 3.23ABV, quite low and lower than I care for. Another thing I noticed is that upon transferring I have visible fermentation and an active (slow but busy) airlock even now at 13 days after the boil. Taste is fine, but the ABV is really low.
So the question is; what can I do do raise the ABV? Wait another week or two and check FG before trying anything? I'm afraid if I wait too long there wont be enough left for carbonation. Add some sugar/honey? Pitch more yeast? Or am I just screwed by having such a low OG?
I've always strictly adhered to me recipes by doing one week in the primary (bucket) and 1 week in the secondary (carboy) then bottle. I messed up somehow on this batch by getting a low OG after the boil, it was supposed to be 1.049 and I had 1.043. On top of that I used a yeast I'd never used before, the recipe called for White Labs 320 which I have read is a slow starter and long working strain.
So what I did was wait over 10 days before transferring to the carboy since there was still activity in the airlock at the 1-week point which I've never had before. When I did that I measured 1.018 which says I get a 3.23ABV, quite low and lower than I care for. Another thing I noticed is that upon transferring I have visible fermentation and an active (slow but busy) airlock even now at 13 days after the boil. Taste is fine, but the ABV is really low.
So the question is; what can I do do raise the ABV? Wait another week or two and check FG before trying anything? I'm afraid if I wait too long there wont be enough left for carbonation. Add some sugar/honey? Pitch more yeast? Or am I just screwed by having such a low OG?