Why is my OG so high?

[ahoffman565]

This is the 2nd batch in a row when my calibrated OG is WAY higher than what the recipe states it should be. This time it was with a Sierra Nevada Celebration Ale clone recipe. The OG estimate was 1.069. I plugged in all my ingredients into Beersmith and this number was confirmed. However, I took a reading and it was 1.080 @ 83 degrees F (which calibrated should be 1.083 I think).

I had 3.5 lbs. of grain (1 lb. of Caramel 90L and 2.5 lbs of 2-row) soaked between 150-160 degrees for 45 minutes as well as 7 lbs of extra pale liquid malt extract.

Any ideas?

Andrew

 

[enderwig]

When using liquid extract, you have to stir till it hurts to get an accurate hydrometer reading. It takes an unbelievable amount of stirring to get it properly mixed.

 

[ahoffman565]

The 1.083 was "post boil"......does that matter?

 

[TeleTwanger]

The 1.083 was "post boil"......does that matter?

Was it 5 gallons? For 5 gallons with that much grain and extract you should be, by my calculations around 1.067...No matter what you're getting 1.050 from the extract, the rest is from the grains and I doubt you got 33 points from 3.5 lbs of grain more like 17 if you get 70% efficiency, which is doubtfull even.

 

[ahoffman565]

Yep...5 gallons

 

[Jaeger48]

did you add 5 gallons of water and then add the extract? The volume of the extract can effect the OG especially if you're using LME-

 

[TeleTwanger]

You didn't mix it enough or somehow otherwise got a faulty reading. Don't worry about it the numbers don't lie. It's impossible to get 1.083 with the known amounts of extract/grains and water but very easy to get a wrong reading.

 

[JoMarky]

Thats 130% efficiency. Its taken me a while to master a hydrometer, I've found getting the most consistent results come from spinning the hydrometer to get any bubbles off of it, to have the testing vessel on a level surface, and to let it sit for 5 minutes to settle on where ever it wants to settle.

 

[enderwig]

We are missing some info here. How much volume did you boil? The full 5 gallons, or less and then topped off with water? I am assuming that you boiled 2 to 3 gallons and then topped up with water, which would go back to the first comment I made that it takes an unbelievable amount of stirring to properly mix a concentrated wort with water to get an accurate reading. As others have said, I would assume that your OG is in the 1.069 area, with the fermentables that you have in your recipe, it really is nearly impossible to have a true reading much higher than that.

 

[ahoffman565]

Sorry, I dropped off the face of the earth for a while...

I boiled about 4 1/4 gallons which went down to about 3 1/2 post boil. I then topped off with water.

So if I'm understanding you correctly, the gravity is much higher because my top-off water & boiled wort mixture wasn't thoroughly mixed? Can one simply shake the crap out of the fermenter?

Thanks,
Andrew

 

[ahoffman565]

Just so you all didn't think I was *drinking* too much beer during brew day...I had the forethought to take a picture.

 

[enderwig]

Shaking the crap out of the fermenter never hurts. Mixes and oxygenates at the same time. If the fermenter asks you to stop shaking it, its probably mixed good enough

 

[Nablis]

also test your hydrometer in some distilled water to make sure it is accurate.