Short Yield

[auhoppymatt]

Started with 6 gallons of spring water, added the lme and dme. Did a 30 minute steep to 170, then 60 minute boil. Ended up with 4 gallons. Where'd I mess up?

 

[auhoppymatt]

Og was 50, supposed to be 42-45.

 

[brewkinger]

How much grain did you steep?
You lost about 1/2 quart per pound to absorption and the rest boiled off

 

[auhoppymatt]

1/2 pound

 

[flars]

Typically with an extract brew with steeping grains, you would steep first, then add the extract. You most likely had to vigorous of a boil causing the loss of volume.
When doing a partial boil recipe, the full volume is made up in the fermentor by adding top off water.
You can add one gallon of sanitary water to the fermentor if the OG is higher than the estimated OG of the recipe. You can also let it go with the reduced volume if the wort tasted good.

 

[cas3439]

Just like flars suggested you could add a gallon of water to dilute. According to BrewersFriend.com I wouldn't add more than 3/4 of a gallon. Adding more would dilute it further dropping your target OG below 1.042.