OG Question

[Fuser]

Does adding more LME increase the OG? Will this make the alcohol level higher. I am making a hefe and was thinking of using 7 lbs LME instead of 6.5 lbs. I was hoping this would raise the alcohol level. Will I need to increase hops much to balance this out?

 

[Nateo]

The short answers are yes, and no, respectively.

More sugar means higher OG. So more extract means high OG. As long as that extra sugar ferments, then there will be more alcohol. Hefes should be lightly hopped anyway, so don't add more hops.

 

[pericles]

I agree with Nateo, but I also think it's important to point out that alcohol content is related to original gravity, but they aren't identical. You could, for instance, get a really high gravity liquid by dissolving salt into the water, or gelatin. Yeast won't consume either of those compounds, though, so - although you have a very high Original Gravity - you won't get any alcohol. Only (for the most part,) fermentable sugars will be consumed by the yeast and create alcohol.

That said, not all of the compounds containing fermentable sugars are created equal. Malt will add body and flavor to a beer in addition to alcohol. Simple sugars like dextrose, sucrose, and fructose, on the other hand will not.

If all you want to do is add alcohol to your beer, I'd add a half-a-pound of dextrose. It won't affect your flavor (much). Adding a half-pound of malt to the beer, on the other hand, will make your wheat beer taste malty, and maybe even a little sour.