low starting gravity

[wiggins]

Just want to know what could be wrong here.I did an sg at the start of my new brew and it read 1032! I used a kilo of BE 2 and filled to 24 litres,but when i ran these stats through the brew calculator on brewcrafts website ot reckons i should have got 1040 sg at the start.What gives here,is the calculator only a very rough guide or have i got a faulty hydrometer?According to the calculator i will only end up with around .5 percent alcohol at finish,which i reckon is bullshit.Maybe 3% is more like it,but i'm not sure.

[gregb]

What temperature was the wort at when you tested it? Hydrometer readings need to be adjusted for temperature.


Cheers,
Greg

[Dogger Dan]

I am thinking that may be the case guys.

Even still, I would add 500 ml of honey to it or Maple Syrup. The more I think the more I like the Maple, it is very liquid already and adding at this point will really bring out the Maple flavour. (If you like that sort of thing)

Dogger

[Cheeno]

1032 sounds about right to me. Hydrometers seem to me a rough indication at best, the correction for temp is likely to be 1-2 points, not the 8 I presume you are after. All I can say is make sure your brew is well mixed before taking a reading. Most kits quote 1040 @ 23L but I have found it is more like 1036-38. I usually only fill to about 21-22L (you get less but you drink it faster) which helps the flavour and the ABV%. Throw in some dex, honey or malt to get get the alcyhol up especially if you fill to 24L. According to my chart, if you can get the FG down to 1005 you will still get 4.3%, not great but not light beer.

Regards

[Dogger Dan]

If that drops to 1005 I'll fall off my chair

Dogger

[Cheeno]

Just trying to remain positive

[tcc]

that brewcraft calculator always seems to rate the SG too high

probably they calculate a 1.7kg kit as 1.7kg of liquid malt, when it's really got some unfermentables in it too?

[tcc]

wait, i just realised how stupid that was...unfermentables would raise sg..

ah well, anyone got any ideas why? i have even put samples in the freezer to bring them down around 10 degrees or so, and still found they were lower than what brewcraft says

[wiggins]

I've gone and put 500 grams of lme into the brew,hopefully that will raise the alcohol abit and also give it more body.Very nearly ended up with my brew all over the floor,as,when i poured the lme into the brew it frothed right up.Ijammed the lid back on real quick,and only lost a bit through the airlock.
Next time,if i have to do anything similar,i'll pour it in veeery slowly.

[Tipsy]

[quote="Cheeno"]Hydrometers seem to me a rough indication at best/quote]

I've got two cooper hydrometers that both read diferently