So what happens if.......

[johnsonbrew]

What happens if I add an extra pound of DME to a recipe? Some how I spaced off using a pound of DME in one of my recipies and am left with an extra pound hanging around. I am getting ready to brew a couple of batches soon and was wondering if I can just add it to my new brew? It is a basic light DME and I am brewing a Pale Ale and an Amber Ale.

Will it affect the recipie a great deal? Will it give it a high OG thus a higher ABV% at the end? I am just wondering if I should hold onto it and account for it in a future batch.

Thanks!

 

[bob1852]

1lb of DME will raise the OG in a five gallon batch by around 8-9 points, so yes, it will also bump the ABV.

 

[kh54s10]

Without adjusting your hop schedule it will also unbalance the recipe.

You can check out what will happen by using recipe calculator.
One that is free online that I have used is Beer Calculus on Hopville.com. Input the ingredients and the volumes of the normal recipe. Check out the IBU amount. Then add the DME to the recipe. Now see what hop addition and times you would need to make to keep the IBU's the same.

You can also use the DME to make starters if you are using liquid yeast.