Under OG Target - Add DME-wort to fermenter?

Discussion in 'Homebrewing' started by gdkersey, Oct 29, 2012.

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  1. gdkersey

    gdkersey Initiate (0) Mar 6, 2008 Massachusetts

    Hey guys,

    I brewed a pale ale/bitter yesterday, shooting for 1.05, however I ended up at 1.043. The cause was due to having too much wort at the end of the boil; I used an outdoor propane burner for the first time, and since I got to a boil quicker my boil-off was less than expected (at least that's my thought).

    Has anyone added a boiled and cooled DME to the fermentation? I only added the yeast last night, so krausen is just starting to form.

    Thanks,
    Gareth
     
    #1 gdkersey, Oct 29, 2012
  2. VikeMan

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

    Yes, you can do this. You'd want to boil (or pasteurize) the DME in the smallest amount of water that will dissolve it.

    But...if your OG of 1.043 (versus expected 1.050) was due to less boiloff, you must have about 5.8 gallons of wort already (assuming your volume was supposed to be 5 gallons). I don't know that I'd want to add even more wort to a typical carboy/better bottle/bucket.

    Was this an all grain batch or extract? How/when did you measure your OG?
     
    #2 VikeMan, Oct 29, 2012
  3. ggroller

    ggroller Zealot (600) Sep 26, 2004 Pennsylvania

    At this point I would just leave it alone.
     
    #3 ggroller, Oct 29, 2012
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  4. gdkersey

    gdkersey Initiate (0) Mar 6, 2008 Massachusetts

    It was supposed to be a 4 gallon batch; I ended up with about 4.25-4.5 in the fermenter.

    It was all-grain, and gravity was measured at 70F with a hydrometer before I transferred from the kettle.
     
    #4 gdkersey, Oct 29, 2012
  5. VikeMan

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

    With those numbers, it sounds like a combination of lower than expected boiloff and lower than expected mash/brewhouse efficiency. Sounds like you have plenty of room in the fermenter to add more fermentables if you want. But first, ask yourself what the wort/beer you already made is likely to taste like if you just let it go. Does it still fit the style? Or some other style?
     
    #5 VikeMan, Oct 29, 2012
  6. gdkersey

    gdkersey Initiate (0) Mar 6, 2008 Massachusetts

    You're right, I also missed my efficiency by a few points. I think I will just leave it and see how it turns out, although it will be more bitter than I was originally hoping for. Also, I mashed at 156F (highest I've done in AG so far) and I'm unsure where my FG will end up and what my finished ABV will be. Here is the recipe:

    http://hopville.com/recipe/1657324
     
    #6 gdkersey, Oct 30, 2012
  7. VikeMan

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

    Looks like it will be a tad bitter, but not crazy undrinkable bitter.
     
    #7 VikeMan, Oct 30, 2012
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