Missed OG

[paulgough]

My recent brew day seems to have been a success. Fermentation is well under way and gravity is dropping nicely.

I did, however, miss by OG by a long way and am wondering why.

I collected a boiler full of wort and even managed to collect some additional wort.

Any ideas why I missed my OG by so much?

I added liquor to compensate so all is well I guess. I just want my next brew to be more accurate.

 

[jonnymorris]

Given you added liquor to compensate I assume your OG was higher than expected. If so, maybe your efficiency was better than forecast? Did you use Beer Smith or similar?

 

[Dieseljockey]

What OG did you hope to hit??? and what did you hit??

 

[Dave1970]

As you say you added water to correct OG I'd assume you went over- could be you had higher evaporation losses than you were expecting

 

[calumscott]

First up your wort smelled brilliant on the boil!! :thumb:

Second, I'm brewing between Christmas and new year if you fancy coming round for a BIAB brewday...

Third, did you take notes through your day? Things like pre-boil volume and SG Vs post boil?

Your finished bucketful came out with good volume and gravity after you liquored back so you either got your pre-boil spot on but lost too much in evaporation (thereby over-concentrating the sugar) or you were more efficient in the mash than you were expecting but collected less than you thought (so you started with a higher concentration of sugar pre-boil).

Either way, can't wait to taste it! (said he, somewhat presumptuously...)

 

[paulgough]

Having looked back, I think it's a combination of higher than anticipated efficiency and loss to evaporation.

If I'm making 23 litres, what's a good pre-boil volume.

I did have a full boiler but I presume I can top up with wort during the boil?

 

[Stihler]

Another cause of higher than anticipated original gravities can result from having your grist too finely ground.

Just another factor to consider.

- Scott