Spray malts and enhancers

[Euan1984]

Hi guys Im still very new to homebrew but I have a question regarding spray malt and enhancers , I started a cezch pilsner but instead of using 1kg of brewing sugar I used 1 kg of pilsner booster now the guide says my starting gravity should be around 1.060 but my starting gravity was 1.040 a lot lower is this because there is a difference with the ingredients of the beer booster as I have found this before when I swapped sugars for spray malt I had a much lower starting gravity than it was suggesting I should have , thanks and advice or help is appreciated . Euan.

 

[LarryF]

Most kits with 1kg of brewing sugar or Brew Enhancer or spray malt will usually give you an OG of 1040. I like my beers at about 6% so I bump mine up with 60g of honey or 454g of Lyons Golden Syrup. Any extra fermentables added to your brew will up the ABV. For stouts a lot of people like to use malt extract or Lyons Black Treacle but for lighter beers you can use the honey or syrup.

 

[terrym]

I think it unlikely that 1 kg of brewing sugar would have boosted your OG to 1.060, unless you have brewed very short, more likely about 1.040 as LarryF said, which is in fact what you have got anyway using the 'booster'. Looking on one site that sells this booster suggests to me that it is a mix of spraymalt and brewing sugar, so although the fermentable sugars will be very slightly down, you have probably done yourself a favour by using more malt in the brew to add flavour, rather than all sugar which adds nothing other than alcohol content.

 

[Euan1984]

Hi Terry the guide book said that the starting gravity with the malt extract and 1kg of brewing sugars would give a starting gravity of 1.060 and obviously I was way off, I had this happen before when using an enhancer or spray malt , it could just be coincidence , I'll def try the honey next time Larry that sounds good .

 

[LarryF]

Hi Terry the guide book said that the starting gravity with the malt extract and 1kg of brewing sugars would give a starting gravity of 1.060 and obviously I was way off, I had this happen before when using an enhancer or spray malt , it could just be coincidence , I'll def try the honey next time Larry that sounds good .

It's really easy to overdo the honey, try 50g mixed into some boiling water and added to the FV that should get your OG 1050ish. Beyond this it's a very small step to the 7% alcohol tang.