first time to brew and OG way high

[wadwrich]

when I took my first reading before pitching yeast it was around 1.090. I know that is way too high. All I can think of is that when I topped it up I didn't mix it well enough and got a bit of the concentrated wort. It was supposed to start at 1.045. Or maybe because when I topped it up to what I thought was five gallons it was actually 4.5. The other half gallon actually just turned out to be foam. Would that have made the OG higher? I am guessing yes, but not that much higher. And if that reading was correct, could that be part of the reason the fermentation is so slow and weak? Can I pitch more yeast after it has already sat for a week? Would I need to do that if the gravity is still high?

 

[RoadKing]

Is it an extract? That's double the OG. Maybe it wasn't stirred when you took your hydrometer reading. I would re check it.

 

[wadwrich]

Yeah it's an extract and that is my guess as well. Would it be safe to open it now that it has been sitting for four days? Should I just wait until it has been a week? There doesn't seem to have been much activity.

 

[RoadKing]

Now that it's almost done fermenting, a reading isn't going to tell you much. You might as well leave it alone and check it in a few days.
If all looks good let is sit for a couple more weeks and you good to go!