Newby question about boosting abv

Boosting ABV is fairly simple: add more malt extract.

What hops came with the kit?

Cheers!

 

To answer your second question first, I would recommend East Kent Goldings hops. If those aren't available, I would recommend something like Willamette or Fuggles. [Edit: I see you have Northern Brewer and Willamette hops. In that case, for the extra hops I would use additional Willamette hops.]

As to your first question, according to Brewing Classic Styles by Jamil Zainasheff and John Palmer, to make a stronger or weaker Scottish ale you can simply adjust the amount of base malt and the amount of bittering hops (without adjusting specialty grains): "[T]his recipe can be easily adjusted to make varying strengths of the same beer. The specialty grains remain the same; it is only the base malt and hop bittering that changes."

I'm guessing this is an extract kit? So you would add an additional amount of very light LME or DME, and a small amount of extra hops, and otherwise the recipe would be unchanged (but see below re: yeast). For the additional extract, it's important to use the lightest LME or DME available (so for instance, "pilsen light" or "golden light" extract rather than something like "amber" or "Munich" extract), because you are only trying to increase the ABV, not the flavor impact from darker-kilned grains. I think you could probably, as a rule of thumb, increase the hops by the same percentage that you increase the fermentables. So if you use 35% extra fermentables, you could use 35% extra hops. I would add all the new hops at the beginning of the boil, and add the original hops whenever the recipe calls for them.

I don't know what kind of yeast these kits call for, but the additional gravity may call for a bigger pitch of yeast. Given that it's your first 5 gallon batch, I kind of hope you are using dry yeast, in which case a single packet of US-05 or Nottingham or something should be sufficient even with the increased gravity. If you haven't bought the yeast yet, US-05 is probably a good choice because it will be nice and clean at low fermentation temperatures. If you are planning on using liquid yeast (for instance, Wyeast 1728 "Scottish Ale"), then you might consider making a starter to increase your cell count. If you search this website, or consult John Palmer's How to Brew, you should find plenty of information on making a starter.

 

3.5% sounds awfully low. double check that.

the answer to your question is both simple and involved though. like Jack says, increase the amount of extract. more fermentable = higher alcohol. you can also add a pound of dextrose in lieu of malt extract.

but you are messing with the recipe, and we almost always have the same advice for new brewers. don't mess with the recipe. be happy with good 3.5% beer or make 5 gallons of lousy 5% beer. adding fermentable will change the hop aroma and hop bitterness, and not likely for the better. you can also thin the beer with too much alcohol. dry it out.

learn to brew good beer, then go about changing it up.
Cheers.

 

I think 3.5% is a perfectly reasonable ABV for a Scottish ale.

And this is a fairly basic adjustment that I think you can handle despite being new to the hobby. Just add a bit of extra malt extract (I would not advise using simple sugar for this purpose) and a bit of extra hops, and maybe adjust your yeast, as described above.

 

Add a pound of light DME and a pound of cane sugar. And use distilled water. Yummy. The hops it came with are just fine for the style.

 

Yeah... I continue to urge you not to use simple sugar for any portion of the extra fermentables. Scottish ale should be malty, you are not trying to lighten it up, the way you might a light Belgian beer or something. Use a nice, very light-colored malt extract for your extra fermentables.

 

well...
describe "a bit of extra malt extract". what kind works wit this recipe?
and "a bit of extra hops". maybe 1 ounce, is that a bit? could he use 8% AA northern brewer? a half ounce of that or maybe a half ounce of 12% magnum? or maybe a little, 1/4 ounce of Willamette. at the beginning of the boil? how are we going to make this beer a Scottish ale anyway?

so, let's add 1 ounce of Northern Brewer for 60 minutes. and let's add 2 pounds of extra light DME. make it a late extract addition.

the point is, nobody is doing anyone a favor by messing with an unknown recipe. for a new brewer.
that's my advice.
Cheers.

 

I agree, 3.5% is fine but if you want something with a little more oomph don't add simple sugars, but get some more malt into it. Alternatively, just brew it short with less water, say 35 pints instead of 40.
Over this side of the pond we can get this http://www.brewuk.co.uk/ingredients...-foil-pack-spraymalt-hopped-light-500grm.html which is perfect for tweaking the abv up whilst maintaining the hop balance.