samuelcollins
Well-Known Member
- Joined
- May 23, 2013
- Messages
- 46
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Ok this is a first for me. Water chemistry is fine, I think. Never had a problem. While brewing some of my seasonal pumpkin ale, I look into the refractometer, and guess what--1.045 OG! I was aiming for 1.055. Again, I don't think its my water unless the alkilinity has gone up severely since my last brew.
My mash temp was about a degree too high. Perfectly acceptable variation, so I don't think that was it (unless my thermometer threw craps). I batch sparged twice with 170 degree water. Stirred like a mother, like I always do. Was proud of my sparge technique this time, in fact I thought it was a big improvement over my last time.
My grain crush--used the same method as always and thought I had a decent crush. At least, think I did.
Here's the kicker. I overestimated my water loss on the boil. In the end, I ended up with nearly 6 gallons in the primary. My recipe was for a 5 gallon batch. My questions are as follows:
Could ending up with too much wort have dropped my efficiency so signaficantly? Or might I be dealing with another problem?
Another question: when I am brewing a 5 gal recipe, should I be aiming for 5.5 gallons in the fermenter, or five gallons?
Last question: I added 1.3 cups of corn sugar to my pumpkin ale in hopes of getting the brix up. I added it after the fermentation started. (I did not get my refractor to a sample until next day--long story but just didn't). What do you think, was this a creative solution that may drive up my ABV? I'd like to get this beer to at least 5% ABV...I mean, if you are gonna brew...like to hit at least 5%. 4.5 would be ok too.
Look forward to any thoughts!
My mash temp was about a degree too high. Perfectly acceptable variation, so I don't think that was it (unless my thermometer threw craps). I batch sparged twice with 170 degree water. Stirred like a mother, like I always do. Was proud of my sparge technique this time, in fact I thought it was a big improvement over my last time.
My grain crush--used the same method as always and thought I had a decent crush. At least, think I did.
Here's the kicker. I overestimated my water loss on the boil. In the end, I ended up with nearly 6 gallons in the primary. My recipe was for a 5 gallon batch. My questions are as follows:
Could ending up with too much wort have dropped my efficiency so signaficantly? Or might I be dealing with another problem?
Another question: when I am brewing a 5 gal recipe, should I be aiming for 5.5 gallons in the fermenter, or five gallons?
Last question: I added 1.3 cups of corn sugar to my pumpkin ale in hopes of getting the brix up. I added it after the fermentation started. (I did not get my refractor to a sample until next day--long story but just didn't). What do you think, was this a creative solution that may drive up my ABV? I'd like to get this beer to at least 5% ABV...I mean, if you are gonna brew...like to hit at least 5%. 4.5 would be ok too.
Look forward to any thoughts!