overshot OG by 11pts...what now?

[smthgfshy]

just brewed my second batch and I overshot my OG by 11pts. According to my best guess...(the calc over at hopville)...my OG shoulda been 1.066. Ended up being 1.077. Being a jong, I wasn't sure how to classify my 3lbs of Pilsner DME. My yeast (WLP550) is only supposed to handle OG's to 1.070 and I fully realize that making a starter should be done with these big beers.

Even though fermentation is now starting (krausen is rising) I'm afraid I won't get full attenuation. (My last batch (OG1.080) stopped at 1.028 (shoulda gone to 22) and I've got concerns of bottle bombs.)

I have the ability to pick up another vial of yeast tomorrow. Is it worth it to pitch another vial?? Or should I wait a few weeks to see if I get down to my expected FG....then make a cake and transfer my wort onto it??

Thanks yall!!

 

[dcp27]

was this an extract batch and did you top off with water before taking your OG reading? if so, the true OG is probably 1.066, its difficult to mix wort and water effectively enough to get an accurate reading. in the future I suggest taking readings prior to top off and calculating for the adjustment
batch OG = post-boil OG * post-boil volume / batch volume

under-attenuation isnt the biggest problem with underpitching (its usually not an issue). the problem is that it causes the yeast to get stressed further which leads to excess esters/phenols and gives longer lag times which leave more opportunity to infections

 

[smthgfshy]

dcp~ Yes, this was an extract batch (8lbs of extract, steeped 2+). I boiled 4 gals of wort. Had 3.5 left post boil. When cool, I added this to 2 gallons of cold water already in the primary. I shook the primary vigorously for 10 minutes to aerate and drew off a sample for my OG. I then pitched my yeast and swirled to mix.

 

[VTBrewer]

Sounds like you did give a good shot at mixing it up, but as long as your water volume was correct, its almost impossible to miss your OG with extract. The calculated OG is based on the known amount of sugar in the extract and the amount of water added to it. Which you did. There is some conversion from the steeping grains, but not enough to make you go over by 11 points.

AG is of course different, as the OG prediction is based upon 72% (usually) efficiency in getting sugar conversion from your grain.

So, if you really had 5 gallons and used the right amount of extract, hitting your OG is automatic.

 

[smthgfshy]

I don't think I overshot my OG per se, I just miscalculated it. The recipe calc. that I used didn't have a Pilsner DME choice, so I put in the closest approximation (or so I thought), pilsner malt.

When I went back to the calc. I chose the Briess Pilsner DME option and this gave me a new OG 1.078. My measured OG was 1.077. So I think I hit it, BUT my yeast prep and quantity is based on an OG of 1.066. SO, in essence, I overshot my OG.

Should I not worry about it?
Expect some off flavors?
Pitch some more yeast now?
Measure my FG in a couple weeks and deal with it then?

I'm 2.5 hours from my LHBS, but will be in town tomorrow.....and I'm just trying to get all my errands done at once.