Fresh Wort Kit, Og Of 1.070?!?

[MCT]

G'day all, I've just put down a St Peters Original Porter fresh wort kit, made it up to 18.5 litres.
Just measured the OG, and it's a whopping 1.070!
Is this pretty normal for this style of beer? And can the yeast (S-04) handle this?
I'm guessing I'm going to end up with a high FG around 1.020, but just thought I'd ask if anyone else has done this kit and what gravity they had.

Cheers, Mick.

Edit: I should mention that have tested my hydrometer and it looks like it's accurate.

 

[beer slayer]

Hi MCT

I think if you check the label that it says to add 5 liters of water.
I'm sure that this would bring it down lower.

 

[MCT]

Hi MCT

I think if you check the label that it says to add 5 liters of water.
I'm sure that this would bring it down lower.

Yeah I have just added another 1.5L water, I didn't make it quite up to 20 as I've had low OG's before with the fresh wort kits. Still high though...

 

[Adamt]

I'd be testing my hydrometer in room temperature water if I were you.

 

[brendo]

I'd be testing my hydrometer in room temperature water if I were you.

You want to test at around 20C - most hydrometers are calibrated for that temp.

Also check that your hydrometer is correctly calibrated by putting it into tap water - shoudl get a reading around 1.000

 

[Linz]

poss pure fresh wort from the tap??( ie. not stirred through properly??)

take a 2nd hyro sample??

 

[brendo]

poss pure fresh wort from the tap??( ie. not stirred through properly??)

take a 2nd hyro sample??

Yeah great point - I always drain off a bit of the wort first (into a glass) and dispose of it before filling my sample jar - the tap often fills up with a pretty strong mix. Only need to do this for the initial sample.