Is "OG" Low?

[Stanleywho]

Hi All,

I'd like to hear your thoughts. It's just an observation and would like to know more for future brews.

I've done four brews all K+K (Coopers cans) with no added extras so far with OG's of 1040,1040,1035 & 1045 all with no problems.

Batch No5 I tried a different LHBS and came home with an American style Ale. Consisting of

Can of "Wal's Wheat" 1.7
1Kg Brew Boost (500g Dextrose, 250g Lightmalt, 250g Maltodex.)
Grain "Vienna" 150g
Hops "Amarillo" (teabag size?)

Did all the usual things, while doing that I let the grain soak in hot water for 20min in a Litre jug and the hops in a mug also for 20min.

Tossed the Hopbag and water in and strained the grainwater in and rinsed the grain a few times also.

I checked the "OG" before pitching and got 1025.

Just thinking with the extra's now included surely the OG would have been higher.

Cheers Everybody

 

[mrsupraboy]

Mayb u have use an old tin. Or maybe u didn't mix it he can and dextrose in properly. Maybe take another reading.

 

[jaypes]

Are you sure you mixed/disolved it all properly? This might indicate your low reading.

The yeast should still eat it all up without being thoroughly mixed so your brew should still be ok

 

[menoetes]

Do you know what volume you made it up to? How many Liters? It could be that you just watered it down too much...

 

[yum beer]

Coopers cans with nothing added will not get you into the 1040's.....very low 1030's at best. Unless as above your volume is low.
Look at your mixing and measuring method.
Make sure everything is mixed really well, draw off a sample tube, look it up and down then throw away, take another sample and do your hydro reading. Unmixed tin likes to hang out in the tap until you flush it.
Aslo check your hydro in tap water to get an idea of how acccurate it is. Should be 1.000 in tap water at room temp. *give or take a point for temp.

 

[Grott]

"'draw off a sample tube, look it up and down then throw away, take another sample and do your hydro reading." yum beer is spot on. generally what goes into the fermenter first is in the tap therefore always drain off a bit when first checking.
cheers

 

[Stanleywho]

I think mixing in the dextrose is the culprit.

The previous brews I added the dextrose straight after the can and hotwater then filled to 23Lts. This batch I added the dextrose after I had filled to 23Lts and did notice some lumps of dextrose on the top even after a fair bit of stirring.

Not using the first sample from the tap for your reading seems a very good tip also.

Thank you all for your input. Cheers