Mangrove Jacks dutch lager kit

[TugsyNZ]

I don't normally take hydrometer readings when doing extract kit beers. Seems to waste good beer. So I bought a refractomer and took my first readings with the Mangtove Jack's dutch lager kit. Keep in mind on the back of the can the ABV was said to produce 4.5%.

Added 1kg Dextrose
10g Californian Lager Yeast

Temp controlled at 18°C then 4 days in up to 20°C.

SG Was 1.041
FG is 1.020, hasn't dropped in 3 days. I was expecting an FG of around 1.010

So my ABV that makes it around 2.75%

Any ideas as to why its so low? or why the FG hasn't gotten down to what is expected?

Cheers

 

[riceral]

I don't normally take hydrometer readings when doing extract kit beers. Seems to waste good beer. So I bought a refractomer and took my first readings with the Mangtove Jack's dutch lager kit. Keep in mind on the back of the can the ABV was said to produce 4.5%.

Added 1kg Dextrose
10g Californian Lager Yeast

Temp controlled at 18°C then 4 days in up to 20°C.

SG Was 1.041
FG is 1.020, hasn't dropped in 3 days. I was expecting an FG of around 1.010

So my ABV that makes it around 2.75%

Any ideas as to why its so low? or why the FG hasn't gotten down to what is expected?

Cheers

If you are measuring FG with a refractometer you need to correct for the presence of alcohol. Once alcohol is present, the refractometer can't be used to directly measure the FG.

I use a refractometer up until the FG, then I use a hydrometer.

There are several websites which will give you the correction factor. You need to know the starting gravity (which you do). Use a Google search for refractometer correction and you should find several.

HTH

 

[dmtaylor]

This question is asked by some homebrewer somewhere daily. Thou shalt use a conversion calculator anytime alcohol is present. The most accurate one I know of:

https://www.brewersfriend.com/refractometer-calculator/