Too much sparge water = higher OG??

Discussion in 'Homebrewing' started by WickedWally, Feb 17, 2017.

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  1. WickedWally

    WickedWally Initiate (0) Nov 30, 2016 Connecticut

    Makes little sense, but I'll take it. Brewed up a NEIPA two days ago and allowed too much sparge water to run through. I ended up with 8 gallons on what was supposed to be a six and a half gallon batch. I hoped some would boil off but it very little reduction occurred over the hour long boil. I expected to have my OG to drop from the expected 1.065 to under 1.040 but, once everything was cooled down, I ended up at 1.070. That's like 85% efficiency, by my rough calculations. Ok. Only problem is I only had one vial of WLP001. I picked another one up on my way into work (I work nights) and was hoping to add it to the fermenter in the morning. I noticed the fermenter was already churning out co2 when I left for work. Should I leave well enough alone or chuck this extra vial in? I really don't want to leave this batch under pitched, if I can help it. Hopefully some of you night owls will chime in before I get home. Thanks.
     
    #1 WickedWally, Feb 17, 2017
  2. marquis

    marquis Pooh-Bah (2,313) Nov 20, 2005 England
    Pooh-Bah

    85% efficiency was pretty well my ballpark figure when brewing but this was for low gravity brews.Of course a longer sparge does extract more fermentables so after boiling reduction there is a higher OG.
     
    #2 marquis, Feb 17, 2017
  3. WickedWally

    WickedWally Initiate (0) Nov 30, 2016 Connecticut

    Thanks, Marquis. Any thoughts on the pitching rate?
     
    #3 WickedWally, Feb 17, 2017
  4. VikeMan

    VikeMan Grand Pooh-Bah (3,067) Jul 12, 2009 Pennsylvania
    Pooh-Bah

    Usually, when someone gets a much higher mash efficiency than what they were expecting, it's because there is a problem in a measurement or in the calculations. Though 85% certainly isn't unheard of. If you can post your grain bill and the exact preboil or postboil volume of the wort, someone can sanity check your calculation. Or use software.

    Regarding adding more yeast, I probably wouldn't at this relatively late stage, unless/until there's a tangible problem to solve.
     
    #4 VikeMan, Feb 17, 2017
    inchrisin likes this.
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