Is my alcohol reading correct?

[coolkidirish]

Hey everyone

I'm in the process of brewing The Craft Ranges's IPA (it's my first brew).

Everything has gone well so far, but I just noticed that the box says 5.7% alcohol.

My OG reading was 1.046, and it is supposed to go as low as 1.005 which would be 5.38%?

I know they are very close, but just curious as to what I can do in future to get a higher OG to get the suggested alcohol percentage, or is it more a case it can carry on lower than 1.005?

Thanks in advance :-)

Cillian

[DEMPSEY]

Don't go lower than 1005 as an IPA needs some body to balance it. 1012/4 finish would be better for an IPA. To get more starting gravity you need more malt.

[Jonnycheech]

1.005 does seem low for an IPA. It must have some highly fermentable sugars if so.

[Leann ull]

Are you reading hydrometer right?

[coolkidirish]

Yes, on the instructions (it is a universal instruction sheet for all of their brews) it says 1.010 for all of their other brews, but for IPA it says 1.005.

Someone mentioned that they might be allowing for 0.3%-0.5% rise in alcohol when priming bottles which would line up with the calculations.

[Leann ull]

I know they are very close, but just curious as to what I can do in future to get a higher OG to get the suggested alcohol percentage, or is it more a case it can carry on lower than 1.005?

Use less water to bump the OG

[molc]

1.008-1.010 is the sweet spot for IPA, giving some residual sweetness but at the same time being dry enough to lift off your palette so you want to drink more.