Weizenbock to Seconday - ABV seems off

[Jwpj]

Hey all,

I've had my Weizenbock in the primary for 11 days. Last night, I racked to the secondary, and took a hydro reading, which came out about 1.009. My OG was only 1.040, which puts me at an ABV of just over 4%.

This seems really low, especially since bocks are usually bigger beers.

I'm wondering if my hydro readings are off. I'm using a hydrometer directly in a wine thief (recommended by my LHBS), and when i put it in the thief, it ultimately leans to one side and rests against the side of the tube.

I know it's not 'supposed' to do that, but I don't think it would affect the gravity readings by that much. Also, when I do take my gravity readings, I always make sure it is floating in the right spot (even though it is resting on the side of the tube)

 

[Beernik]

It seems like the right attenuation for a 1.040 OG but that does seem low for weizenbock.

What's the recipe?

 

[Jwpj]

Extract recipe:

8.4lb Wheat LME
8oz flaked Wheat, 4oz Carafa I, 80oz Crystal 120L
1oz 6HBU Tradition (60 min)

Steeped grains for about 20 min, added LME, brought to boil and added hops.

White labs American Hefeweizen added when wort dropped to 80.

Fermented at about 70 degrees for about 11 days.

Maybe the FG will drop in the secondary? But still, ABV will not get over 5%.

Thanks.

 

[Beernik]

That should give you about 1.063 OG (assuming 5 gallon batch).

Was this a partial boil? If so, I'm guessing a bad OG sample because the top off water wasn't fully mixed.

 

[freisste]

I have to say that if the hydrometer is touching the side of the tube (I also measure in the thief, btw), I would NOT trust the reading. It would be easy to affect your measurement. Keep in mind, the hydrometer only has to be held up by about 1/4" to have an error of about 10 gravity points.

 

[Jwpj]

I have to say that if the hydrometer is touching the side of the tube (I also measure in the thief, btw), I would NOT trust the reading. It would be easy to affect your measurement. Keep in mind, the hydrometer only has to be held up by about 1/4" to have an error of about 10 gravity points.

Do you have this problem measuring in a thief? Maybe it's my hydrometer? It looks like the ballast weight on the bottom may be a little crooked (see link for pic).

 

[freisste]

Actually, it does seem really hard to keep it from touching the side. Usually I can manage, but it has taken a little practice.

 

[Jwpj]

Update on my Weizenbock..

So, I went out last night, and when I came home, I took a look at the beer in the secondary, and it looked like mold was growing on the top of it. I was super upset, as I've NEVER had an issue with sanitation/infection before.

This morning, I looked again, and on closer inspection (it was really late last night) it just looks like a collection of tiny bubbles, so I think I'm safe. I will try and get a picture when my phone charges, and post it for some thoughts.

However, when I smell the airlock, it smells a bit sour. Nothing too bad, but just a little sour smell.

It's only been in the secondary one day, but now I'm thinking about just bottling and not letting it sit in the secondary too long.

Thoughts?

 

[Jwpj]

Okay, updating with pics...

Here is the Weizenbock in the secondary:

And here is the bubbles thing. It's hard to see (in the pictures, it still does look a little like mold)but they are a collection of bubbles.

Also, I noticed that is smells unusually fruity...