Quick question

[okkiedokki]

Brewed my first batch of beer on 6/2/12. It was an Irish red ale from Midwest. The kit said my OG should be 1.042 to 1.046, mine measured in at 1.053. Now almost three weeks later the FG on Tuesday this week and today is 1.020. I know the kit says 1.010 to 1.012 but I shouldn't honestly expect to hit that number since I somehow managed to start a bit higher right? I'm not worried about alcohol content and it tastes the way I want so am I ready to bottle? I just don't want to get everything ready and have a bottle bomb.

 

[Dan]

It's probably done. Just take another reading in a couple days and if it is the same botttle up.

There's a thread around hear from Revy I tried to find to link you but don't remember the title. But he mentions that extract kits that have been topped off with water are nearly impossible to get an accuratate OG reading on. Also if you wound up with less wort than planned for that will make the OG higher.

 

[okkiedokki]

I did have slightly elevated fermentation temperatures the first day till I figured out how to cool it off. So I wonder if that had any affect? I also only had about 4.5 gallons of wort, I never topped it off. I'll retest Sunday and if it's good I'll start bottling.