High Gravity Brewing

[CPThomson]

Hey folks

Does anyone have any insight into brewing high gravity in a small volume pot, and then diluting it to a desired higher quantity for the ferment?


Thanks!

 

[matt76]

Yes - I do 10-12L (ish) batches and I've done this a few times for a couple of reasons:

You can "liquor back", adding water to the FV at pitching time to reduce your OG, usually only 1-2L in a 10L batch. I've done this when I've overshot my OG a bit. If you're doing this just use the dilution/boil off calculator on Brewer's Friend.

Or you can be more deliberate and make a higher gravity wort and liquor back with a more substantial amount of water. I've done this too - but as you add more water you need to take note account of the impact on bitterness/IBUs. A higher gravity wort doesn't take up the bitterness so readily. You can simply add, say, 10% more bittering hops, or if you're geeky and obsessive about exact numbers like me you can try to calculate it:

https://www.thehomebrewforum.co.uk/threads/ag-13-vtm-pale-ale-big-brew.81590/
https://www.thehomebrewforum.co.uk/threads/ag-14-american-wheat-big-brew.81668/
https://www.thehomebrewforum.co.uk/threads/matt76s-brewdays.81971/

 

[BradleyW]

Yes - I do 10-12L (ish) batches and I've done this a few times for a couple of reasons:

You can "liquor back", adding water to the FV at pitching time to reduce your OG, usually only 1-2L in a 10L batch. I've done this when I've overshot my OG a bit. If you're doing this just use the dilution/boil off calculator on Brewer's Friend.

Or you can be more deliberate and make a higher gravity wort and liquor back with a more substantial amount of water. I've done this too - but as you add more water you need to take note account of the impact on bitterness/IBUs. A higher gravity wort doesn't take up the bitterness so readily. You can simply add, say, 10% more bittering hops, or if you're geeky and obsessive about exact numbers like me you can try to calculate it:

https://www.thehomebrewforum.co.uk/threads/ag-13-vtm-pale-ale-big-brew.81590/
https://www.thehomebrewforum.co.uk/threads/ag-14-american-wheat-big-brew.81668/
https://www.thehomebrewforum.co.uk/threads/matt76s-brewdays.81971/

This was exactly what I was lookng for. About to make a stout and dilute it to make more volume and was wondering if I'd need to increase the hops
Nice one!