Way too low OG

[andycr]

Just did my second batch, a 2.5 gallon pale ale. The recipe came from the local brew shop:

3 lbs Light DME
4 oz Crystal 20
0.5 oz Perle (Bittering)
0.5 oz Cascade (Flavor)
0.5 oz Cascade (Dry hop)

I got it put together, and the OG in the recipe said it should be 1.060. I measured 1.042 in mine!!

Hopville's tools said it should be 1.055. Can anyone think of why this happened? The only thing I can think of is that the DME bags I used from the shop must have been smaller than a pound each (they're packed on-site). I'll be measuring everything myself from now on.

 

[NordeastBrewer77]

Was it a partial boil, using top up water afterwards?

 

[andycr]

It was, yes. I boiled with about 2 gallons, and then topped up about 0.5 gallons. Are you thinking it wasn't mixed well? I can't remember whether I shook it to aerate before or after the reading, so that may well be the cause. Feeling better already.

 

[NordeastBrewer77]

Are you thinking it wasn't mixed well?

I am. It's really common and usually the reason that these 'low OG' threads are posted. Don't worry about it, it'll all mix in during fermentation.

 

[andycr]

Excellent, thanks!

 

[IXVolt]

It's really common and usually the reason

^ This.

The instant I saw DME, this was my first thought.