Possible low SG?

[Andyhull]

Hi all,

Started my Nelsons Revenge kit last night.
When i took the SG it was 1042.
Is this too low or is this correct for that kit, it's supposed to end up with 4.5% alcohol.

 

[jonnymorris]

I've done plenty of brews that have started about 1042. However, they generally end up at about 3.6%. I've not done the maths but my point is I think it unlikely you'll hit 4.5% having started at 1042.

That said, I think most kits exaggerate the final alcohol volume.

 

[Andyhull]

Do you think it would be worth adding some LME to give it a bit of a boost?

 

[graysalchemy]

You could add some :thumb: . Did you add the right amount of water to the kit?

If it goes down to 1008 then it will have a abv of 4.5% which isn't far off. Kits I think do go lower than what you would expect an All grain brew to go.

 

[Andyhull]

I may have acidently added another ltr to the brew.
In my deffence though, with my last brew i ended up loseing around 1 1/2 inch of brew to sediment at the bottom of the FV so tried to compensate a little.
I wouldn't have thought that 1ltr would make such a difference (or would it?)

I was going to get a 430g jar of LME from holland and barratt and add that or a jar of honey? :hmm:

 

[carl_saint]

I was going to get a 430g jar of LME from holland and barratt and add that or a jar of honey? :hmm:

I wouldn't I'd just leave it as it is. I've had kits go down to 1.008 so you may hit your 4.5%

 

[eggman]

1042 sounds about right to me :thumb:
As already mentioned alot of the kits don't quite finish at the f.g stated on the box, i've done loads of Woodfordes and i've never got one below 1012
I tend to add a bit of extra malt or demerara sugar to mine to beef it up a bit, as it's been on a couple of days now i'd leave it as it is, then next time you do one and want to tinker you'll have something to compare it to
:

 

[RobWalker]

it's probably not stirred properly mate, but it's not an issue. just let it go, you can't really go wrong with 2 can kits.

 

[Andyhull]

It's deffinately stired enough, trust me.
We stired it until the extract from both tins was disolved when we added the boiled water, then i had Eve (eldest daughter) stiring it all the time as i added the rest of the cold water, then stired some more when we added the yeast, then i whisked the brew to incorporate as much air in as i could.

If thats what it's suposed to be then thats fine, it's just that i heard people stating SG's of 1045+ thats all.
I liked the flavour of the Wherry straight out of the box so probably best not adding anything.
I never took the SG or the FG of the wherry as my hydrometer was broken so that could have been low too.

I'll see how it goes if you guys think 1042 isn't too bad :thumb:

Thanks Guys.