Upping ABV Post-primary

[Hopwater]

I have a raspberry wheat that I will be bottling up in a week or two. I made it more for SWMBO, but it would take her forever to go through 5 gal of any beer. The stuff is sitting at ~4% ABV. I would like to take a gal or 2 of the stuff and up the ABV a good bit, thereby turning it into raspberry rocket fuel.

Is there a good way to go about this? Possibly put it in a 1 gal glass jug, add some DME, airlock, and and let it go for a bit? Or maybe use corn sugar?

Normally I wouldn't mess with it/rekindle fermentation...but I thought that since this stuff has a very strong raspberry flavor to begin with, it should hold a good deal of that flavor even after upping the ABV.

 

[ArcaneXor]

What's your objective? Getting drunk faster? Then just fortify it with vodka or everclear. If it's a mouthfeel thing, maltodextrin will boost it without changing the ABV. DME will slightly increase mouthfeel, whereas corn sugar will dry it out.

 

[Hopwater]

The objective is to increase ABV to around 8-9%...and I would say it is less of a mouthfeel issue, and more a desired effect issue. I want this stuff to make you feel warm after drinking one or two.

Actually adding vodka may not be a bad idea. But it seems like the easy way out or something. I think it would be more satisfying if all the alcohol in it were 'created' in my basement.

How much corn sugar would it take to up the ABV in 1 gallon from 4% to around 9%? OG was 1.040, FG is 1.010.

Or is it better to just add vodka?

 

[IffyG]

Upping the alcohol content without compensating for it in the recipe is going to nothing but make you beer taste like booze...

If the goal is feeling 'warm' after drinking one or two, have your beer and take a shot of vodka when you are done. It will successfully obtain your objective while not mucking up your beer.

 

[kh54s10]

Leave it for the SWMBO and her friends, then brew something better.

 

[arch1tect]

Just drink it or bottle it.

 

[Hopwater]

seems like sound advice. i'm just gonna bottle it as-is.

i just liked the sound of raspberry rocket fuel...maybe something to try some other time.

i think i will try adding a shot of vodka when i pour one though.

 

[Lazarous]

Possibly something like freeze concentration?

 

[strambo]

Too late to compensate for the additional ABV with more hops, so I'd say leave it alone. If it is a tad on the bitter side...you could add some DME and sugar...

I love marion berries (blackberries) and will make an ~8% Marion berry ALE one of these days....