OG is low

[78camperbus]

The OG was 1.030 @ 70F and the recipe kit said it should be @ 1.040-48. I have already put in primary with yeast. What could have gone wrong and How can I correct this with my next batch?

 

[uwmgdman]

The OG was 1.030 @ 70F and the recipe kit said it should be @ 1.040-48. I have already put in primary with yeast. What could have gone wrong and How can I correct this with my next batch?

Since you are using a kit, only a few obvious things come to mind:

1) You added too much water to your boil volume
2) You didn't add all the extract to the boil by a rather significant amount
3) Your hydrometer is incorrect, try putting it in to water at (I believe 60F) and it should read 1.000

 

[Lou]

need more information.
the OG of what? an extract-based kit or an all-grain brew? are you sure your SG sample was a homogeneous solution...top-up water was well mixed with boiled portion of the wort...?

 

[El Pistolero]

More than likely, you just didn't stir real well after topping off, so you ended up testing a diluted sample. If you're using extract, and topping off to the recommended volume, then your OG is what the kit says it will be...there's really no way it can be anything else.

 

[78camperbus]

I added 2 gallons of wort to 3 gallons of water in the primary fermenter and then collected the OG reading of 1.030. The mixture appreared well mixed but i did not strain the wort. This was an extract kit (Brewer's Best-Brown ale). Next time I will strain the wort and stir a little more to make sure I get a good mixture. Also, would the OG be effected if the water ran through a softner and then filtered before I put it in the primary fermenter?

 

[uwmgdman]

I added 2 gallons of wort to 3 gallons of water in the primary fermenter and then collected the OG reading of 1.030. The mixture appreared well mixed but i did not strain the wort. This was an extract kit (Brewer's Best-Brown ale). Next time I will strain the wort and stir a little more to make sure I get a good mixture. Also, would the OG be effected if the water ran through a softner and then filtered before I put it in the primary fermenter?

The softner and filter shouldn't effect it. My tap water is run through both and I haven't had any problems.

 

[El Pistolero]

No, the hardness of the water wouldn't effect the OG in an extract batch. What was the contents of your kit? I'm assuming your kit contained a can of lme...what was the net weight? Given that info you can calculate what your OG was, regardless of what that infernal hydrometer said.

 

[budbo]

don't most BB kits come with both LME and DME? it is really hard to mess one up if you followed the directions, you will probably be fine.

 

[homebrewer_99]

don't most BB kits come with both LME and DME? it is really hard to mess one up if you followed the directions, you will probably be fine.

I read your sig:

Primary:
Leftover Suprise
Secondary:
WTF2 Ale
HBT Imperial Hellfire Ale
Bottled:
Silly Scotch Ale
Drinking:
Jackassery pail Ale
Jackassery Boston Ale
Jackassery Brown Ale
Up next:
A divorce if I don't take a couple weekends off

PLEASE, DO NOT SHARE THAT LAST RECIPE WITH ANY OF US!!!

(Of course, the Jackassery, WTF, and Leftover Surprise we are all familiar with...)