Quite a low OG

[strangecarr]

Hi,

Yesterday I did my first extract brew (also using crystal malt). When I measured the OG, it was about 0.008 short, I'm at 1.046, instead of 1.054. I have already pitched the yeast, but I was thinking today that I should add some sugar to take it up.

Do you think I should leave it, and perhaps add sugar when it goes to secondary. Or should I top it up now, and if so could someone tell me the calculation to work out the amount of sugar needed.

Thanks

 

[Orfy]

If you are doing an extract and steep and you have used the correct volumes then you can not come up short on the gravity.

You must be reading it wrong or not mix thoroughly enough.

 

[strangecarr]

I had to fudge it slightly, I was only going to do a 1 gallon batch so only bought 1 kg of extract. Then I decided to do 5 gallons instead but forgot to buy more extract. I steeped the grains first and when I realised I only had 1kg of extract I had to pour away 60% of the liquor, to do a 2 gallon batch (1kg of extract was enough for 2 gallons). This probably wasn't exact, which may account for the lower OG. But in this case, would it be wise to add more sugar or should I leave alone...?

Thanks

 

[Orfy]

At 1046 is will be a good mid range beer. I'd just leave it. Sugar will not make the beer better just a larger ABV.

 

[TheJadedDog]

1.046 is nothing to worry about. There is also the possibility that you did not mix well enough before taking the sample; used to happen to me all the time when I used buckets.