Evan Kingsbury
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- Joined
- May 27, 2018
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I am looking for advice on an inexplicably low original gravity. My pre-boil gravity was correct. My boil off rate was correct. So how can my OG be so far off? I've attached my recipe created in Beersmith. Here's the details...
I have tried brewing a Bell's Two Hearted Ale clone twice; just one month between brew days. This is an all grain recipe mashed at 150F for 1-hour. Followed by a 10-minute "mash out" at 170F. Both times, I have had a successful mash (confirmed with iodine test), and hit my pre-boil gravity figure. Per Beersmith, my preboil gravity should be 1.054; mine measured 1.055 with a standard hydrometer after cooling the beer to 68F.
Here's where things get a little murky. I overshot my pre-boil volume a little bit. Beersmith called for 3.83 gallons. My measured pre-boil gravity was actually 3.96. So I had about 20oz more wort than expected, which I attribute to less grain absorption.
I then proceeded to my 75 minute boil. After 75 minutes, my post-boil volume (before chilling) was 3.30 gallons, instead of Beersmith's expected 3.21 gallons. (I started the boil with more volume, so this doesn't surprise me.) My boil off was measured at 0.65 gallons, just slightly more than Beersmith's expected boil off of 0.63 gallons. I use a 120v electric brewing system, so boil off is expected to be ~0.50 gallons per hour.
After the boil, I collected another hydrometer sample. Once chilled to 68F, I measured my OG at 1.060. Beersmith's expected OG is 1.067. This means my gravity only increased 5 points during the 75-minute boil. Beersmith expected a 12 point increase. I have experienced this low OG issue both times I have brewed this recipe. How much should I expect my gravity to increase if 0.65 gallons boils off?
I am starting to wonder if it's my recipe? Could it be the equipment profile in Beersmith account for such a difference? Or if there could be other factors impacting OG aside from per-boil gravity and boil off?
It's probably worth mentioning that I have been able to hit the numbers (pre-boil and post-boil gravity) calculated by Beersmith using other recipes on this same electric brewing setup (i.e., Anvil Foundry 6.5).
Final note - I know an OG of 1.060 is acceptable for an IPA. I was very pleased with how my first batch of this Two Hearted clone turned out. I just want to get to the bottom of why my OG is off target; it's frustrating!
I have tried brewing a Bell's Two Hearted Ale clone twice; just one month between brew days. This is an all grain recipe mashed at 150F for 1-hour. Followed by a 10-minute "mash out" at 170F. Both times, I have had a successful mash (confirmed with iodine test), and hit my pre-boil gravity figure. Per Beersmith, my preboil gravity should be 1.054; mine measured 1.055 with a standard hydrometer after cooling the beer to 68F.
Here's where things get a little murky. I overshot my pre-boil volume a little bit. Beersmith called for 3.83 gallons. My measured pre-boil gravity was actually 3.96. So I had about 20oz more wort than expected, which I attribute to less grain absorption.
I then proceeded to my 75 minute boil. After 75 minutes, my post-boil volume (before chilling) was 3.30 gallons, instead of Beersmith's expected 3.21 gallons. (I started the boil with more volume, so this doesn't surprise me.) My boil off was measured at 0.65 gallons, just slightly more than Beersmith's expected boil off of 0.63 gallons. I use a 120v electric brewing system, so boil off is expected to be ~0.50 gallons per hour.
After the boil, I collected another hydrometer sample. Once chilled to 68F, I measured my OG at 1.060. Beersmith's expected OG is 1.067. This means my gravity only increased 5 points during the 75-minute boil. Beersmith expected a 12 point increase. I have experienced this low OG issue both times I have brewed this recipe. How much should I expect my gravity to increase if 0.65 gallons boils off?
I am starting to wonder if it's my recipe? Could it be the equipment profile in Beersmith account for such a difference? Or if there could be other factors impacting OG aside from per-boil gravity and boil off?
It's probably worth mentioning that I have been able to hit the numbers (pre-boil and post-boil gravity) calculated by Beersmith using other recipes on this same electric brewing setup (i.e., Anvil Foundry 6.5).
Final note - I know an OG of 1.060 is acceptable for an IPA. I was very pleased with how my first batch of this Two Hearted clone turned out. I just want to get to the bottom of why my OG is off target; it's frustrating!