Traditional ESB - Get ABV up?

[Vollzie]

Please see below, this recipe I just brewed yesterday. My hydrometer reading in bucket is only at 1.043? Once I got into primary fermenter I put it outside for a bit to help it cool. Brought it inside and shook/stirred then took the reading at 69 degrees F.

Questions:
Could my reading be off for any reason?

If reading is accurate, what is the best way to get my ABV up since this is already been pitched/inoculated?

I followed this recipe very close except forgot yeast nutrient so confused as to the lower OG reading.

Traditional ESB
Recipe Type: Extract
Yeast: WLP 002 English Ale
Yeast Starter: Yes
Additional Yeast or Yeast Starter: No
Batch Siz e (Gallons): 5.5
Original Gravity: 1.056
Final Gravity: 1.018
IBU: 42
Boiling Time (Minutes): 60
Color: 8.2 SRM
Primary Fermentation (# of Days & Temp): 10 Days at 65
Deg
Secondary Fermentation (# of Days & Temp): 21 days at
65 Deg
6lbs Extra Light DME
14oz Crystal 55L
(steeped in 1.5 gallons of 160deg water for 20 minutes)
0.75 oz . Wye Target 13.90AA for 60 min.
0.50 oz . WGV 4.50AA for 40 min.
0.50 oz . WGV 4.50AA for 30 min.
0.50 oz . Goldings * E.K. 5.00AA for 15 min.

 

[hercher]

A couple things come to mind. First, did you do a full boil, or did you top off with water? If the latter, it could be you didn't get the water full mixed in, so you aren't getting an accurate reading. Second, are you certain your hydrometer is accurate? Take a reading of just water; it should read 1.000.

If the reading is accurate, the best way to boost your SG at this point would be to add more malt extract.

 

[Vollzie]

3 gallon boil and added bag of ice then water. Was all melted and mixed up real good though.

If I add more LME should I boil first?

 

[RM-MN]

3 gallon boil and added bag of ice then water. Was all melted and mixed up real good though.

If I add more LME should I boil first?

Care to make a bet on that? Concentrated wort (partial boil) is quite dense and very difficult to get thoroughly mixed.

When you use extract the predicted OG is what you get because all the sugars are there in the malt extract. Unless you mis-measure the water amount you have the right OG and you shouldn't add any more malt extract.

 

[hercher]

3 gallon boil and added bag of ice then water. Was all melted and mixed up real good though.

If I add more LME should I boil first?

Yes. Otherwise you are never going to get that properly mixed into water and it will be very difficult to get it properly mixed into your beer.

 

[tennesseean_87]

don't add more. THe only way your gravity is that low is if you spilled 1/4 the extract on the floor. If you put the extract in, your recipe is on target.

 

[hbtasdfg]

measure gravity as soon as active fermentation begins and my bet is it will be higher once the yeast mixes the wort.

adding a tad more won't hurt anything but i wouldn't go too far or you may get outside the style