Question about using DME

danbriant · May 18, 2015

Hi All

I started a new brew of Ginger beer. For the first time I decided to use malt to give it some body etc.

As before it literally was just yeast, water, ginger and sugar.

Here's the strange thing. Not sure if I messed up or whatever.

I wanted to start out with a half and half mix to see if it worked and how malty it would be.

So I use a UK demijohn so I believe they are 4.5 litres

I got some Medium Dried malt extract 500g of it.

http://www.wilko.com/homebrew-accessories+equipment/muntons-spray-malt-medium-500g/invt/0318923

Fresh grated ginger.

I also used 500g of table sugar. Then boiled up for around 20 mins and then left to cool normally.

I pitched using Wilkos Ale yeast, which for those from the USA is a Nottingham Yeast, I think.

I get all my brewing stuff from Wilko for those in the UK.

When in the past I done it with pure sugar I have had an SG of around 1.08

Normally ferments out to around 7%

But using the 50/50 mix according to my hydrometer I got 1.04

I thought DME was a replacement for sugar.

So what's gone on as I'm confused.

ManseMasher · May 18, 2015

Depending on which website you look at, some say that 1kg of sugar equals (roughly) 1.25 kg of dme, so that might be why.

danbriant · May 18, 2015

Ah dang. So what result could I expect to get from this setup?

Like what % value and would it all ferment out like sugar does?

Have never brewed with malt. So trial and error xD

clibit · May 18, 2015

I think your SG reading must be wrong, you can't be far away from this:

Batch Size (L): 4.5
Original Gravity (OG): 1.084
Final Gravity (FG): 1.010
Alcohol by Volume (ABV): 9.65 %

Grain Bill
----------------
0.500 kg Cane Sugar (50%)
0.500 kg Dry Malt Extract - Amber (50%)

danbriant · May 18, 2015

Clibit,that's near enough to what I was expecting.

I have no idea what went wrong there though.

It was a clean fully prepared sample after cooling, and put in a 100ml measuring flask.

Taken direct from the demijohn etc. Everything was dissolved.

Even checked the hydrometer and its sitting perfect in just water etc.

Well lets see how this insane brew turns out. Looking forward to the malt flavour. Being bottled in 300ml bottles when finished.