original gravity WAAAAY off

[thisgoestoeleven]

I just brewed my pumpkin stout this morning. Here's the recipe:

6# Amber extract syrup
1# Chocolate malt
1# Crystal 120L
1# Roasted barley
~5-6# pumpkin, cooked (roasted, then put in mash with grains)
.5oz Nugget hops (60min)
1oz UK Fuggles hops (10min)
1tsp pumpkin pie spice (cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, allspice)

the Hopville recipe calculator said OG should be around 1.061, and my measured OG was 1.032. What could cause it to be so far off? What impact will this have in terms of flavor and body, aside from lower alcohol content? I'm planning on giving much of this batch out as Christmas presents, but I'm worried it won't come out right.

 

[Revvy]

We get this question 3-4 times every day, so you're not alone. And in reality, nothing's wrong. (In fact you're the 4th one this morning alone.)

It's a pretty common issue for ANYONE topping off with water in the fermenter (and that includes partial mashes, extract or all grain recipes) to have an error in reading the OG...In fact, it is actually nearly impossible to mix the wort and the top off water in a way to get an accurate OG reading...

Brewers get a low reading if they get more of the top off water than the wort, conversely they get a higher number if they grabbed more of the extract than the top off water in their sample.

RM-MN has a great analogy;

This phenomenon is easy to see if you have a glass measure cup, some dark honey, and water. Pour in half a cup of water into the glass container, then dribble in some honey. Notice the honey sinks right to the bottom? It's more dense because of the sugar it contains. Now use a toothpick to stir the water above the honey. This will simulate using a spoon in a 5 gallon container. Did you get the honey mixed in? Not likely. If you drop in some dry yeast, it will find the honey and begin eating and the activity of the yeast will mix the honey in just fine.

When I am doing an extract with grain recipe I make sure to stir for a minimum of 5 minutes (whipping up a froth to aerate as well) before I draw a grav sample and pitch my yeast....It really is an effort to integrate the wort with the top off water...This is a fairly common new brewer issue we get on here...unless you under or over topped off or the final volume for the kit was 5 gallons and you topped off to 5.5, then the issue, sorry to say, is "operator error"

More than likely your true OG is really what it's supposed to be. And it will mix itself fine during fermentation.

And just use the number it says in the instructions as the true OG, because it will be.

So the answer is, relax and do nothing.

 

[unionrdr]

I even started putting my fine mesh strainer on top of the open FV to pour the chilled wort & water through when topping off/mixing. It aerates it rather well,& I do believe it helps with the mixing too. Then take my paddle & stir it a solid 5 minutes as well. I get good readings this way.

 

[ChaosStout]

After my first extract batch I dont even do an OG reading. Really whats the point? Just do FG reading to make sure its done.

 

[thisgoestoeleven]

Thanks for that thorough response, Revvy. I just checked it again, and it was right on the money at 1.061. I appreciate the help and feedback.

 

[unionrdr]

After my first extract batch I dont even do an OG reading. Really whats the point? Just do FG reading to make sure its done.

That's ok I guess,if you're brewing a kit. But if you're not,you pretty much have to take an OG reading. I do it every time as a matter of process stability/repeatability. Makes sense to me,anyway.

 

[Dynachrome]

Is there a different method to get alcohol levels when it is finished, like a litmus strip style, only for alcohol?

 

[lowlife]

HP 5890 Series II Gas Chromatograph Mfr P/N 5890SERIESII..

That might work =)

 

[Apendecto]

HP 5890 Series II Gas Chromatograph Mfr P/N 5890SERIESII..

That might work =)

What a bargain!

 

[Dynachrome]

What a bargain!

...Ha - I'll buy two at that price.