Ran into something interesting during my brew day yesterday

[redrocker652002]

Ok, so yesterday I brewed up a 5 gallon batch of Blonde Ale. Simple recipe with 10 pounds of 2 row and some honey malt. Bittering addition at 60, then hops at 10 and 0 minutes. I was a bit low on my OG and really high on my post boil kettle volume. I thought about boiling some off, but realized that I had added the flameout hops already and that would throw off the recipe. So, I went with what I had. My OG was suppose to be something in the range of 1.045 and I was at 1.043. Not huge and by my thoughts a success. LOL. But, it did get me thinking, if I wanted to boil some volume out but already added all the hops, how do you all do that? Just thinking out loud and getting ready to go play golf so take that for what it is worth. Any input is welcomed.

 

[corncob]

I would not chase 2 points, and have run my current system enough to hit OG/volume within about a 3 point window every time.

BUT, I do still always leave a little water out. I formulate everything so that I add a half gallon or so after flameout. When I was still getting used to my system, it came in handy many times. I take a gravity sample right at the end of the boil, chill it in a big metal bowl inside another bowl filled with ice water. Then adjust the makeup amount to nudge OG a couple points either way.

I wonder if I'm the only one who does this?

 

[MaxStout]

Boiling longer after the late boil additions to gain those 2 points would be at the (greater, IMO) expense of altering the flavor and bitterness. Better to have a beer that ends up slightly below target ABV than one with the hops balance off.

Re-adjust your recipe volumes for next time.

 

[BongoYodeler]

I agree, two gravity points is no big deal, and certainly not worth diagnosing.

Has this happened before?
Are you using brewing software?
If you're using sw, and are consistently off by a couple points, then probably tweak your boil-off rate in the program. If it's just this one time I'd consider it an anomaly and simply brew on. Just always try to be as accurate as possibly with water volumes, and with how strong a boil you use. Aim for consistency.

I use BS3 and have everything really dialed in. I'm pretty much never off with the post-boil volume or OG BS3 estimates. Now I've done it! Probably just jinxed myself.

 

[IslandLizard]

If you notice it early on you could increase the heat level, for a larger/faster boil-off.

For a bigger boil-off, add a fan blowing over the surface, or sucking steam away. You'll certainly need to raise your heat level a bit too, to keep the boil vigorous enough, as the added air movement will cool the whole system by a few degrees.

 

[redrocker652002]

Thanks guys. I was not asking specifically about my 2 points off, but just in general how would you all handle if you were off but had already added your last hop addition. I have been off on both sides of it, gravity and volume, so I am still trying to tweak it. But just more or less a question on how you would all handle it.

 

[BongoYodeler]

Thanks guys. I was not asking specifically about my 2 points off, but just in general how would you all handle if you were off but had already added your last hop addition. I have been off on both sides of it, gravity and volume, so I am still trying to tweak it. But just more or less a question on how you would all handle it.

Understood. Personally, I would just soldier on, take what you get, drink it, and make any needed adjustments for next time. Collect all data. Over time the more data you have the more you can fine tune your process and hiccups ike this will become a thing of the past. Cheers!!

 

[mashdar]

If you've already added hops, you're pretty much stuck.

Two exceptions:

If you've only added 60+m and are willing to accept slightly more bitter beer, you can extend boil, but anything past that will pretty significantly increase bitterness, even if you re-do late hops.

If you're doing some crazy IBU recipe, you might already be pretty AA saturated, and might be able to re-do late hops.

edit: I think if you're willing to adjust boil-off, you should plan for it immediately post-mash. I'd personally just call it an experimental batch. If you want to adjust, quickest fix might be to boil down a gallon of first wort on the stove. That will darken the beer slightly and add some dark flavors. You can do it coincident with the main boil, so it doesn't extend brew day too much.

 

[BrewnWKopperKat]

I was not asking specifically about my 2 points off, but just in general how would you all handle if you were off but had already added your last hop addition. I have been off on both sides of it, gravity and volume, so I am still trying to tweak it.

(eta) Measure earlier in the earlier in the process - as it might be easier to make adjustments.

I measure pre-boil volume and SG to confirm mash efficiency. I also measure end of boil OG to confirm boil off rate.

Assuming estimated and actual "gravity points" (SG * volume) are 'the same', I can correct a 'bad' start of boil SG by boiling longer or adding water.

I have not recently had to correct a major difference between estimated and actual "gravity points". Adding sugar / DME (low gravity points) or replacing wort with water (high gravity points), along with a possible volume adjustment are options. One could also pause (just before the boil) and re-work the hop bill (convert an IPA to a Pale Ale, etc).

 

[kevin58]

I don't brew numbers. I get what I get at the end and call it good. Free yourself from the numbers game and start making beer.

 

[DBhomebrew]

I never got stressed about numbers, but I paid very close attention to observed vs predicted. Whatever the beer ended up as at the end of the day was perfectly fine, but I looked very carefully at the deltas. Over a few dozen batches I got to the point where volumes matched to the nearest 1.7oz and gravities were within .002.

Now I just brew beer. The beer I intended when I hit print on the recipe. No stress about it. This last batch was a rebrew of the batch before. I didn't pull out a measuring device at any point in the process. In the end, I packaged the same 42 and a half bottles. I imagine the gravity's the same too, but I'm not concerned enough to check.

 

[BrewnWKopperKat]

observed vs predicted.

So just enough estimates and measurements, over time, to become proficient and comfortable with the process.

Some one might come along later in this topic to note that continuing to collect the numbers is "cheap insurance".

"Brew how you like, like what you brew!".

 

[Deric]

I've always figured +/- points a win.

 

[pvtpublic]

Thanks guys. I was not asking specifically about my 2 points off, but just in general how would you all handle if you were off but had already added your last hop addition. I have been off on both sides of it, gravity and volume, so I am still trying to tweak it. But just more or less a question on how you would all handle it.

Do you take a preboil gravity reading? Do you know your boil off rate? Do you know how to calculate gravity units per gallon/liter?

But to answer your question, you could always let it whirlpool longer and let evaporation move you up the hydrometer. Or add water to go down.

 

[IslandLizard]

But to answer your question, you could always let it whirlpool longer and let evaporation move you up the hydrometer.

That would certainly increase bitterness while reducing flavor/aroma of late boil/whirlpool hops.

 

[Skeeter686]

If I'm concerned about a batch (e.g., a really big beer, changing techniques, or for some other reason I feel I need to pay close attention to my numbers) I'll take a pre-boil reading and then at least one reading during the boil (usually at halfway point). If the gravity reading isn't on track to hit target OG, then I'll adjust my burner to try to boil off more or less during the latter half.

And like someone else mentioned, I've added DME or sugar at the end of the boil to bring up the gravity a bit when things went off the rails.

 

[Willy]

I would not chase 2 points, and have run my current system enough to hit OG/volume within about a 3 point window every time.

BUT, I do still always leave a little water out. I formulate everything so that I add a half gallon or so after flameout. When I was still getting used to my system, it came in handy many times. I take a gravity sample right at the end of the boil, chill it in a big metal bowl inside another bowl filled with ice water. Then adjust the makeup amount to nudge OG a couple points either way.

I wonder if I'm the only one who does this?

I use the same methodology.... And leave my batch about 1/2 g short so I can add more water as needed. I boil up some water the day before to sterilize, and then put it in a sanitized container in the fridge to use if needed.

 

[Closet Fermenter]

I don't brew numbers. I get what I get at the end and call it good. Free yourself from the numbers game and start making beer.

You know, I am kinda the same; seriously. I do check my gravity right after it goes into the fermenter, just to see how it went, but otherwise just go with it. For years, I never even did that. I don’t write anything down but my favorite recipes, and ones that I want to try someday.
I know there’s a legal limit to how much you can brew, but without anything on record, I feel like Nixon without the tapes.

 

[Kickass]

Easy fix. Add a little table sugar, honey, DME, etc.

 

[pvtpublic]

That would certainly increase bitterness while reducing flavor/aroma of late boil/whirlpool hops.

Not so much if it's cooler than 180*F. And if you were chasing 2 points, then you would only need to evaporate about a quart, which wouldn't take too long, if the wort is agitated by whirlpool.

But @Kickass is right, if it's only a couple points, a quarter pound of sugar would give about 2 points in a 5 gallon batch.

 

[Closet Fermenter]

if it's only a couple points, a quarter pound of sugar would give about 2 points in a 5 gallon batch.

Another way to look at it is that a couple points translates to about ¼% ABV. You can adjust by getting a larger mug when you pour one!

 

[redrocker652002]

Thanks for all the responses. It was just something I thought of when I was finished and cleaning up. Two points is well within my plus or minus, so I did not mind at all. Had I missed it by 10 points maybe, but then I would have to look at the overall recipe and process. Good stuff, thanks for posting and please keep it going if there is more to add.

 

[pvtpublic]

Another way to look at it is that a couple points translates to about ¼% ABV. You can adjust by getting a larger mug when you pour one!

I should amend all of my previous answers.

This is the way lol

 

[Bramling Cross]

I can't say I've ever sipped a beer and thought to myself, "Nice beer. Clearly, a 1.043 beer, though. Shame. I think I'd like it a lot more at 1.045."

[Edit: This is also why I persist with the archaic 90min boil, having that first 30mins of boiling prior to adding your bittering hops gives you the opportunity to confirm your pre-boil pH adjustments and boil off rate. Yeah, it's an unnecessary waste of energy, but I find it helps me to make very consistent batches.]

 

[day_trippr]

That extra 30 minutes can also be used to bring a handful of extra gravity points into play...

Cheers!