So I brewed my first batch, an amber ale extract kit (recipe below). I didn't have a hydrometer on brew day so I don't know the exact OG, but I'd expect it to be around the predicted 1.045.
I had it in primary for 26 days and decided to bottle on Sunday. I admit a rookie mistake expecting the 26 days was more than long enough, so I only checked the FG with the half a beer at the end of bottling, which turned out to be 1.02. If my math is right that's about 55% attenuation, well below the expected 75%.
I've got the bottles in a box to try and contain them were a bomb to happen. I've checked one bottle today and it just had a little bit of carb, but not even up to standard for an ale. Is there anything else I can do other than wait and see?
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On a sidenote, all I did to aerate the wort before fermentation is put it through a strainer. Is it possible that this just wasn't enough and caused the low attenuation?
Recipe
http://www.brewsupply.com/HowTo/Recipes/sunsetblvd.html
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Malt Extract:
Pale 6 lbs.
Grain Bill:
Chocolate Malt 2 oz
Crystal 40 4 oz
Crystal 80 12 oz
Hopping Schedule:
#1 Cascade (4.6%) 1.3 oz 60 min
#2 Willamette (4.5%) 0.4 oz 15 min
#3 Cascade 0.8 oz 0 min
Predicted Starting Gravity:
1.045
Priming Sugar:
3.5 oz corn sugar
I had it in primary for 26 days and decided to bottle on Sunday. I admit a rookie mistake expecting the 26 days was more than long enough, so I only checked the FG with the half a beer at the end of bottling, which turned out to be 1.02. If my math is right that's about 55% attenuation, well below the expected 75%.
I've got the bottles in a box to try and contain them were a bomb to happen. I've checked one bottle today and it just had a little bit of carb, but not even up to standard for an ale. Is there anything else I can do other than wait and see?
---
On a sidenote, all I did to aerate the wort before fermentation is put it through a strainer. Is it possible that this just wasn't enough and caused the low attenuation?
Recipe
http://www.brewsupply.com/HowTo/Recipes/sunsetblvd.html
------
Malt Extract:
Pale 6 lbs.
Grain Bill:
Chocolate Malt 2 oz
Crystal 40 4 oz
Crystal 80 12 oz
Hopping Schedule:
#1 Cascade (4.6%) 1.3 oz 60 min
#2 Willamette (4.5%) 0.4 oz 15 min
#3 Cascade 0.8 oz 0 min
Predicted Starting Gravity:
1.045
Priming Sugar:
3.5 oz corn sugar