Og: 1070 Too High?

[johnyb]

Hi Brewers,

I just put together a bargain bought odds and ends brew of:

1 can Tooheys Draught
1 can Coopers Stout
1 Can Brigalow Pilsner

500g Caramalt steeped 30 mins at 70deg in 6 litres water
Added 600g LDME and boilded for an hour adding 40g Cascade at 30 mins and 40g Cascade at 5 mins

I pack Coopers BE2
1 kg Saunders liqiud malt extract

55 litres water, SA05 yeast pitched at 22deg and under temp control heading down to 18deg

I just took the Hydrometer reading and I'm a bit worried, 1070, thats nearly 9% alcohol? Is this is a bit much, should I add some more water asap? I am wondering has the malt caramalt boosted non fermentables a bit and given a high reading? or have I just made a super-brew?I dont want to be too wrecked!!

Thanks in advance! JB

 

[citizensnips]

nah that sounds about right

 

[johnyb]

I wonder what the alcohol content is going to be?

 

[zoidbergmerc]

If you're in doubt just send it down to Tasmania for me to test

 

[Aus_Rider_22]

Few things, is it 55 litres as you say or a typo and meant to be 25L?

If it's 55 litres you are looking at roughly
OG 1046
FG 1013
4.8% in bottle or 4.4% before bottling.

If it's 25 litres you are looking at roughly
OG 1101
FG 1027
10.2% in bottle or 9.8% before bottling.

If you are doing 55 litres I would recommend 3 packets of yeast will be needed.

 

[brettprevans]

its not really the 500g or caramalt thats made the differance, its the 3 tins of goo that youve used. from memory 1 tin at 21L = about SG1040, so 3 of them is heaps. and then youve got almost 3 kg of malt extract (liquid and dry).

Aus rider's calc are about right. so how much water did you put in there.? if its 55L if certianly isnt a 1070OG. and if its 25L well thats because of all th malt you used.

on the plus side at least youve got some extra hops in there, but im still a little worried that its not going to be enough.

 

[johnyb]

Few things, is it 55 litres as you say or a typo and meant to be 25L?

If it's 55 litres you are looking at roughly
OG 1046
FG 1013
4.8% in bottle or 4.4% before bottling.

If it's 25 litres you are looking at roughly
OG 1101
FG 1027
10.2% in bottle or 9.8% before bottling.

If you are doing 55 litres I would recommend 3 packets of yeast will be needed.

Yes Ausrider it is 55 litres, and I used 3 packs, sorry I should have said that.

I am a bit worried that maybe my hydrometer is not working properly, as yesterday I bottled a Morgans Lager I had sitting at 12 deg for weeks (including a 24 hr diacetyle rest at 18 deg) and the FG was stuck at 1010 despite only adding 500g LDME to 21 litres. I was expecting the FG to be lower.

 

[chappo1970]

Yes Ausrider it is 55 litres, and I used 3 packs, sorry I should have said that.

I am a bit worried that maybe my hydrometer is not working properly, as yesterday I bottled a Morgans Lager I had sitting at 12 deg for weeks (including a 24 hr diacetyle rest at 18 deg) and the FG was stuck at 1010 despite only adding 500g LDME to 21 litres. I was expecting the FG to be lower.

Ok sometimes some goop gets caught in the tap so run some more wort out and sample again. As for the lager 1010 sounds about right as it's not the amount of fermentables but the amount of unfermentables in your wort that will set up your FG. If in doubt about your Hydro heat/cool some fresh water to 20C and measure. It should read 1.000. Also have a look at the scale it should say what it opt temp is, usually 20C.

Cheers

Chap Chap

 

[johnyb]

Ok sometimes some goop gets caught in the tap so run some more wort out and sample again. As for the lager 1010 sounds about right as it's not the amount of fermentables but the amount of unfermentables in your wort that will set up your FG. If in doubt about your Hydro heat/cool some fresh water to 20C and measure. It should read 1.000. Also have a look at the scale it should say what it opt temp is, usually 20C.

Cheers

Chap Chap

Thanks Chappo,

I'm going down to the shed asap to check my hydrometer in some water, and also I might do well to take your advice and take 2+ readings when I do my hydrometer tests just in case there's some malt in the tapline.

I wish you guys were my neighbours!

JB

 

[chappo1970]

Thanks Chappo,

I'm going down to the shed asap to check my hydrometer in some water, and also I might do well to take your advice and take 2+ readings when I do my hydrometer tests just in case there's some malt in the tapline.

I wish you guys were my neighbours!

JB

I know this because I was once caught out too. Don't worry Johnyb we have all been there even if some suffer memory loss.

 

[the_yobbo]

Thanks Chappo,

I'm going down to the shed asap to check my hydrometer in some water, and also I might do well to take your advice and take 2+ readings when I do my hydrometer tests just in case there's some malt in the tapline.

I wish you guys were my neighbours!

JB

You should be careful what you wish for....

Yeah, I thought I had problems with my hydrometer/s a whlie ago. I bought a new one and discovered it matched the readings the previous two had. I still use the new one out of stubboness, that and it had the temperature correction scale table with it.

 

[johnyb]

An update: I just tried a bottle of this (at only 3 weeks in the bottle) and the verdict is Not bad at all...it's a dark beer with great head and lace, and a tart sweet background. It actually tastes better than a Coopers Dark Ale I was drinking at 6-8 weeks already!!

So, I got 7 cartons of decent tasting brew for under $30... I love it when a good homebrew comes together!!

 

[zoidbergmerc]

nice work! what'd you brew it in? must have been a hell of a fermenter!

 

[johnyb]

nice work! what'd you brew it in? must have been a hell of a fermenter!

All this was accomplished in my 60 litre fermenter, which really holds about 75 litres but I allow for krausen and happy yeast risings. The fermenter JUST fits in my big kelvinator brewing fridge and almost re-pops my hernia (originally done opening the bowling in 1st grade years ago-long story) every time I lift it in there.

 

[zoidbergmerc]

Ah Ok, I've got a couple of 60 litres, I usuallly only do 46L brews in them though.