Fix Low Gravity Brew

[sathid]

Ok, so I brewed an all grain SNPA clone using the BIAB method. Unfortunately my stove wasn't up to the task, and my boil was pretty poor. As a result, I missed my gravity (to low) and seem to have underutilised my hops (low bitterness).

My OG was 1.038 and the present gravity is 1.010. There is very little malt flavour and the bitterness is almost absent.

I was wondering if I could make up an additional wort, say 1-2L, using some DME I have, and maybe doing a mini boil with some more hops (to increase the bitterness) and then add this when I rack to secondary.

Right now, I would say it is almost undrinkable.

Any ideas?

 

[sah]

Suggestion:

Finish fermenting the low gravity wort.

Brew another higher gravity wort and ferment it alone.

Blend the two.

regards,
Scott

 

[Thirsty Boy]

You could do as you say, make up a higher gravity wort, boil with extra hops to up the bitterness, and put it in the primary. I'd be reluctant to put too many new fermentables into your secondary where there might not be enough yeast to deal with them well.

 

[PistolPatch]

Mornin' Sathid,

I was having a chat only two days ago with another brewer who was getting low gravitys with BIAB. It turned out that his bag did not completely line the kettle (so it was difficult to agitate) and that he was also not agitating the mash before taking temperature readings (this leads to dodgy readings.)

A small bag will definitely cause a problem.

Inaccurate temp readings can also cause this problem.

Maybe before you do your second brew, pop over here and bring your thermometer so as we can check the accuracy. I'll be brewing this Saturday so if you drop in then, maybe you can show me what your boil was like and we can narrow down the culprit?

Spot ya,
Pat

 

[JasonY]

Hey Sathid, In answer to your question you should be able to add some DME & hops to bring it up, I have never tried this after the bulk of the wort is fermented but cant see that it would be a problem just don't re-airate the wort since most of it is already fermented. I always check my gravity in the kettle at the start of the boil to spot if there have been any efficiency issues, if something has gone horribly wrong I chuck the DME in then so it comes out where I want it.

In terms of what part of the process has caused the lack of gravity, odds are it was the mash assuming you were aiming for an OG of 1.050+. Perhaps have a look at your crush and assumed efficiency in the recipe, it may have assumed 85% when you are only getting 65%?

Hope it turns out alright.

Jason