Alcohol Content????????????????????????????????

MR · Post by MR » Monday Nov 12, 2007 7:23 pm

I have just started brewing a month or so ago, my first batch has been bottled for 3 weeks or so and cracked a few on the weekend which tasted ok. One thing I am not sure of is the alcohol content of the beer as it seems really lite.

I brewed a Brewcraft Munich Lager (used yeast that came with the kit) and brewcraft lager enhance kit #15. I left it in the fermenter at around 24 degs for just over 2 weeks and it finished with a specific gravity of 1.012 but I didnt take a reading at the start.

Question did I leave something out? Should I have added some dextrose ect? Is there anyway of telling the alcohol content without a SG reading at the start?

Chris · Post by **Chris** » Monday Nov 12, 2007 7:24 pm

Short answer, no, not really. The best option is a guess. I'd guess 4-4.5%.

The problem is that no-one really knows what is in #15, #24 or #472876.

MR · Post by MR » Monday Nov 12, 2007 7:26 pm

Thanks

I tried to find out what was in the #15 but no info to be found

Chris · Post by **Chris** » Monday Nov 12, 2007 7:28 pm

Yeah, good luck. Let us all know if you ever find out. There are a lot of people who'd like to know.

One of the reasons I never liked brewcraft. You never knew what you were buying.

MR · Post by MR » Monday Nov 12, 2007 7:30 pm

So the blend kit or whatever they call it was all I was meant to add? The dextrose or whatever they use would be in it?

Chris · Post by **Chris** » Monday Nov 12, 2007 7:32 pm

Yep. That was all- aside from the can of goo.

MR · Post by MR » Monday Nov 12, 2007 7:33 pm

Cheers, thanks for your help

wambesi · Post by **wambesi** » Monday Nov 12, 2007 9:27 pm

Apparently it is supposed to be similar to BE2, however I have my doubts as they will never say measurements.

I bought them a few times and learnt then, I now buy my own dry malt extracts / dextrose and make my own mixtures...not that I use dex much anymore.

As you are new to it (Hey I still am as well) read up as much as you can here and other sites and maybe get a few good books (How to Brew http://www.howtobrew.com is great, edition 1 is free to read on the net), you will soon learn that dry malt extracts (or liquid) is so much better than dex, but dex does have its place in some beers.

Moving to AG soon, yay!

Tim... · Post by **Tim...** » Tuesday Nov 13, 2007 8:06 am

Brewcraft Brewblend #15 (500g Dextrose, 250g Maltodextrine, 250g Malt Extract)
If your lager enhancer and that are the same thing, then thats a pretty safe bet I reckon. I read it somewhere on these forums, not sure where.