HomebrewNate
Well-Known Member
I made a batch of wheat beer yesterday and siphoned my cooled wort from kettle to fermenting bucket as usual. I put two gallons of distilled water in bucket, pitch yeast and then siphon 3 gallons of wort into bucket using tubing that sits on the bottom of the bucket under the water (to prevent aeration). I typically do not stir the beer after siphoning.
When I took the gravity it measured way lower than the prediction (and this is a kit recipe from Austin Homebrew so should have been pretty accurate). I took the sample from dipping the test jar into top of liquid, which I understand may not be best method. After getting low reading I tasted the sample from test jar and it tasted almost like water...very weak even for beginning product!
Is it possible that my siphoning method leaves the heavier wort sitting on the bottom of the mixture with the plain water rising to top? Could this result in the low reading and watery taste? Has anyone had this issue? Any advice or insight would be appreciated!
On a side note, I have read different views about stirring the wort after siphoning. Some say to "stir vigorously" to activate yeast and some say not to stir at all to prevent aeration. I'd love to hear your viewpoints.
When I took the gravity it measured way lower than the prediction (and this is a kit recipe from Austin Homebrew so should have been pretty accurate). I took the sample from dipping the test jar into top of liquid, which I understand may not be best method. After getting low reading I tasted the sample from test jar and it tasted almost like water...very weak even for beginning product!
Is it possible that my siphoning method leaves the heavier wort sitting on the bottom of the mixture with the plain water rising to top? Could this result in the low reading and watery taste? Has anyone had this issue? Any advice or insight would be appreciated!
On a side note, I have read different views about stirring the wort after siphoning. Some say to "stir vigorously" to activate yeast and some say not to stir at all to prevent aeration. I'd love to hear your viewpoints.