Made Woodforde's Headcracker up to 24 litres not 24 pints

[asktoby]

Oh no!
Just made Woodforde's Headcracker http://www.woodfordes.co.uk/headcracker.html up to 24 litres instead of 24 pints!

I've made it up to 24 litres or 40 pints (i.e. double the water )

It's sitting in my fermentation bucket now, yeasted, only just noticed.
Anything I can do to recover?

I've got a spare Nelson's Revenge kit here. Maybe I could put one of the tins of that in? (But that would leave me with just one tin left, so not ideal)
Maybe I could get some malt from ebay and mix that in? http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Coopers-Amber-Liquid-Malt-Extract-Home-Brew-Beer-Making-/181278672824
Maybe I could add sugar?

I'm after suggestions here.

It's supposed to be made up to 13.6 litres or 24 pints.

 

[bobsbeer]

Welcome : Yes you are going to have to put in extra fermentables if you want the strength to be anything like the original. What was you OG? Knowing that will tell you how much extra to put in. Although if you can fit it into the fermenter I would add all the Nelsons Revenge and top up with water to make the correct amount for a double brew.

 

[graysalchemy]

I think you would be better off adding the contents of another kit as it you try adding fermentables to get it back up then you won't have enough hop bitterness or aroma either, with that much water.

 

[supersteve]

They do half size kits? :hmm:

 

[bobsbeer]

If you have a local HB shop why not get another Headcracker and then add enough water to make a double brew of 27lt. That will fit in a normal bucket.

 

[calumscott]

That will fit in a normal bucket.

But stand it in one of those big plastic under-bed boxes! There won't be a lot of headspace and that smells like a messy carpet to me...

That is the best solution though IMO. Just get another Headcracker and stir it very gently in.

That way you just get twice as much Headcracker and that can never be a bad thing! :thumb:

 

[winelight]

I would definitely add a Nelson's revenge tin.

As for having one tin left, either brew it short (like you should have done with the Headcracker...!) or add a cheap one-can kit or some DME and hop tea... or whatever you like.

 

[asktoby]

Just measured the starting gravity: 1040.
I think I'll add one Nelson's Revenge tin.

 

[bobsbeer]

Don't forget Headcracker is supposed to be a barley wine. So it is supposed to be a strong brew. Adding Nelsons revenge will just make it a strong ale. You have time to add another headcracker if you can get one in the next couple of days.

 

[Slid]

Sounds fine to me.
Once the Nelson's can goes in you will be around 25.5 litres and both the FV and the final drink will be great. ABV maybe 5.4% - ish. More Head Bruiser than Cracker, but no worries.
500g of sugar would add around 1% to the ABV, if that's important.

 

[asktoby]

What a helpful bunch you are! :)
I've just finished a Woodfordes Wherry which I found a bit weak so was looking for something a bit stronger.
So the plan:
Slowly add 1 can of warm Nelson's revenge, stirring
Add 500 g sugar, stirring
Recover until fermented.
Keg with 100g sugar as per original Headcracker instructions

Follow up witha half-brew of Nelson's down the line.

 

[asktoby]

Just a little progress update.
After 15 days in the primary fermentation vessel, the SG is now 1020.
After a vigorous first few days (look at the tide mark!), fermentation has now slowed down to a crawl.
home. asktoby. com/toby/Brew.JPG (The forum won't allow a proper link so sorry about the spaces)
With so few bubbles now I'm tempted to move to the pressure barrel but the high SG is making me want to wait longer.

 

[asktoby]

25 days in primary fermentation and SG dropped to 1114.
Planning to keg this weekend.

 

[Hopping_Mad]

That way you just get twice as much Headcracker and that can never be a bad thing! :thumb:

Yes it can - if you end up drinking twice as much of the stuff in one session!