O.G Way Too High???

[captianoats]

So I brewed a British IPA from Austin yesterday. (This one http://www.austinhomebrew.com/product_info.php?cPath=178_452_470&products_id=12282 )

I mashed at 152 degrees for an hour, and my pre-boil volume was a hair over 6 gallons. I was just under 5 gallons of wort when I pitched yeast. I did also add the alcohol boost. My O.G. was 1.070. I expected to be higher than the 1.056 that the kit says to shoot for due to the alcohol boost, but did it actually cause it to go that high?

This is only my 2nd all grain, so I'm still learning. I'm not worried, worst case scenario it will just sit in secondary for a few months to mellow, just trying to glean knowledge.

 

[Pappers_]

Well, there are two possible explanations that come immediately to mind:

1) your efficiency was much higher than anticipated, meaning you extracted more sugars from the grains than the recipe anticipated

or

2) your volume is significantly different than the recipe anticipate - when you say you're a little under 5 gallons, the difference between 5 gallons and 4 gallons is pretty significant (more than 0.01, I believe)

I like your attitude about this - its beer, you made it, the recipe is just a recipe, your beer will be great!

 

[BOBTHEukBREWER]

As a UK brewer, I have never heard of alcohol boost, please explain, I guess it might be spraymalt powder.

 

[bendavanza]

The website calls for a 1.058 OG and 5.9% abv so assuming a FG of 1.013 (doing the math) a ~1% boost to the OG would be 1.066, not too far from your reading, esp. since you came in under volume. Also, what temp did you take your hydrometer reading at and did you correct for the temp? Have you tested your hydro in 60˚ distilled or at least tap water to check it's accuracy? I have never had one that reads exact.

 

[IceFisherChris]

It sounds like you're going almost exactly according to the recipe. The Og was 1.058 without the ABV boost. Adding 1% to that and also lowering your volume to 4.8 gallons will put you right on the mark.

Find out your exact numbers and use this as a learning experience so you can understand how your equipment works. It will help when you want to make an exact clone of a recipe.

 

[bendavanza]

As a UK brewer, I have never heard of alcohol boost, please explain, I guess it might be spraymalt powder.

From the AHS website:
BrewVint Alcohol Boost [03271]
$1.99

A 14 oz (392g) bag.
The BrewVint Alcohol Boost is 55% maltose and 45% glucose. This dry sugar adjunct will boost the alcohol content without changing the taste, color, or aroma of the beer. One 14 oz bag will boost the beer 1% ABV.
Usage: Add during boil with rest of sugars and adjuncts.

 

[captianoats]

Sounds good, guess I was closer than I thought on gravity. I never bothered doing the math to see what the OG difference would be plus or minus the alcohol boost. I tried adding it after the boil on the last batch, but I couldn't get it all to dissolve.

I was pretty close on temp when I took my reading, I think it was in the mid 70's (I would have to check notes to be exact) and my hydro reads fairly close.

When I say I came in just under 5 gallons, it was probably about 4.9. I was just reading off the fill chart on the side of my brew bucket.

Anyways, thanks for the help guys. Like I said, I'm not worried about the brew, just trying to find out what, if anything, I did wrong. Sounds like I was closer to what I wanted than I thought.

 

[homebrewpey]

I've never attempted this, but I don't see any harm with adding distilled water when you're transferring to the keg or bottling bucket. This would bring the gravity down a bit while producing more beer. Just be sure to use your hydrometer because if you add too much, there is no way to bring the gravity back up.

Personally, I would take the high gravity brew and let it age nicely in my basement.

 

[bendavanza]

Personally, I would proceed as normal and enjoy the beer, since it's an IPA. Have you checked your hydro reading with distilled water?

 

[homebrewpey]

Have you checked your hydro reading with distilled water?

You talkin' to me?

As I noted, I haven't tried using this method, but I don't see why it would cause any potential problems. If anyone has any input as to why adding distilled water to your beer after fermentation has occurred as means to lower FG and increase the volume of beer is a bad idea, I'm all ears.