Original Gravity Differences

KWright_VT · Jan 1, 2015

Well, my first batch was going well until...

It was an American Pale Ale kit with LME and the caramel 20 to steep. All went pretty well through the steeping and boil. I cooled it down to 70 degrees, poured it into my primary fermenter (6.5 gallon bucket), and then added some 70 degree water to make 5 gallons per the recipe. I used a thief to pull a sample and went to put it in a tube to take an OG reading. The thief wouldn't release the wort, so I poured it in from the top of the thief. On the second sample with the thief, I shook it a little and everything freed up and it came out OK, but with a lot of hop particles. I took a reading, and it was way high (over 1.080), so I added some more water (To about 5.3 gallons or so). Second Hydrometer reading was 1.080. I moved some foam from the fermenter and tested in the bucket itself. Hydro read 1.030. Took another sample with the thief and in the test tube, it measured 1.080.

I'm guessing the debris in the sample taken with the thief skewed my reading, and that the 1.030 is probably closer to correct. I went ahead and pitched the yeast since I couldn't think of any correction at that point, stirred and sealed the bucket. My assumption is that I will get an ultra light pale ale, but would like some opinions and suggestions to correct this on my next batch.

Even with a couple of mistakes, it was a lot of fun, now I've just got to be patient until I can bottle this and taste it to see what happened. I'll definitely be making more! Thanks for any help!

Kevin

Braufessor · Jan 1, 2015

It is almost certainly due to your wort not being thoroughly mixed. It is very common to get sort of stratification of heavier and lighter areas in the wort when you add extra water. It takes a lot to mix it completely. It often leads to really weird gravity readings like you saw.

Bottom line is that if you use a certain amt. of extract with the correct amt. of water........ your gravity WILL BE what it was suppose to be. If it is not, it is almost certainly an error of some sort with your hydrometer reading (like not being mixed). It is impossible to get the "wrong" gravity using extract and the correct amount of water.

Your beer will be fine. You were suppose to have 5 gallons total..... how much water did you add? What was the final, total amt. in your fermenter?

Braufessor · Jan 1, 2015

oops.... I see you said 5.3...... basically, your beer will be a couple gravity points lower than planned. Nothing major.

KWright_VT · Jan 1, 2015

Thanks for the feedback. I'm not too worried, I figure it will still be beer and better yet, it will be beer that I made! Each mistake helps me get better and learn how to make better beer. And next time, I should have a homebrew or two to enjoy while brewing.

Braufessor · Jan 1, 2015

I doubt you will be able to tell the difference. Not sure what your gravity was suppose to be...... but, let's say it was suppose to be 1.050 at 5 gallons. It would be 1.047 at 5.3 gallons..... a nonissue for all practical purposes.

KWright_VT · Jan 8, 2015

After a week, it has settled in very nicely. With no more activity showing in the airlock, I went ahead to get a SG reading to see where it is now. It hit the mark with a 1.012 gravity tonight. I'll check it again tomorrow to see if it's done before racking to secondary to condition. The taste was great, I can't wait to have a cold bottled one! Here's what it looks like:

Thanks for everyone's advice to make me more comfortable since I didn't have a homebrew to RDWHAHB with! :mug:

BlueHouseBrewhaus · Jan 8, 2015

Unless you need the fermenter for another brew right away, you really don't need to go to secondary. You could just leave it on primary for 3 or 4 weeks and then bottle. Racking is just one more chance for infection or oxidation. I only do secondary if I' m doing a lager or need my primary for my next brew. You can even cold crash in your primary if you want.