Problem with Low Original Gravity Reading??

[kempbartlett]

Hey everyone , first time poster here, so i hope you all can help!
Im about to do hopefully my last extract brew, but before i do, i wanted to ask about a problem i've been having with my original gravity reading. I've been doing roughly a 3.5 Gal boil (with 5 gal of ingredients worth) , then after chilling, i have been pouring the concentrated wort into the carboy and then after, adding water to arrive at 5 Gallons. At this point i've been using a turkey baster to suck up my wort from the carboy and put it into my Hydrometer.... so im assuming this should all be sounding pretty familiar to you all still in the basic extract phase. The problem is my O.G. is always been wayyyy lower than expected ( like often much closer to what my finished gravity was supposed to be ). i would assume this is because the water i've added to the top of my wort is still the majority of what is at the top of the carboy because this "test" wort is pulled up often only 10 or less minutes after everything is put in the carboy. So i guess what im asking is 1. have other home brewers experienced similar problems? 2. How should i go about recording an accurate O.G. ? 3. And assuming i should be taking this reading later after things have mixed in a little better , don't i then run the risk of contamination? I'm yet to have a contaminated batch , but i have also always been very concision of keeping sterile throughout the process and making sure to VERY rarely open the carboy ( max 3 times and that's not until the very last week before getting ready to bottle)-- Sorry for the story^ but i appreciate the help!

Kemp

 

[ktblunden]

If you are adding the correct amount of extract and ending up with the correct volume your OG will be what it should be per the recipe. No need to measure it prior to fermentation. As you correctly guessed, it is unlikely you will be able to mix the top off water with the wort sufficiently to get an accurate reading. OG readings are much more important when it comes to all grain batches where efficiency of extraction is an important variable. For now just pitch your yeast, let it be, and go by the OG in the recipe.

 

[GilSwillBasementBrews]

It's always been my general understanding that as long as you hit you're desired volume, when using extract, your OG will be what is predicted in the recipe. As you are dissolving a set amount of gravity points in a set amount of volume.

Mashing changes as it depends on how much of the starch has been converted then extracted so it is more variable than extract brewing.


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[kempbartlett]

so i should just assume it's right ha? Idk i guess im just finicky and want to be able to accurately measure the ABV.

Kemp

 

[GilSwillBasementBrews]

Then your going to have to stir the every loving **** out of it. And even then might not get a proper dilution. Again. As long as your measurements on volume are correct and the measurement of your extract is precise there really isn't any reason you wouldn't be at the recipe specified OG. I understand the desire to "Know" that's what your OG is but again the main issue with extract and OG is getting a proper mixing of top off water and extract. The closer to full volume boil you get the less you will have to dilute with water and worry about mixing.


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[cjgenever]

I've always mixed the he'll out of my wort for airation purposes.

For extract I first boil the wort. I would then chill it to below the DMS threshold, usually 150ish. While chilling I would boil my top off water. Dump the top off water in and chill everything together until cool enough to avoid hot side airation.

Now whip it with a paint mixer on a drill or splash it between two buckets. This always mixed it well for my readings and provided a great ferment in sub 1075 brews.

 

[cjgenever]

If your going to do your last extract brew doesn't that mean you're going all grain? The first thing you'll need is a large enough kettle. Try a full volume boil with extract in the new kettle and see if that fixes it