Hi lads, first post here :)
I'm 5 days into my first brew, the Craft Range Blond Lager kit. I'd just like to hear some advice on the original gravity reading I took. My OG reading was 1.038 which seemed very low to me, but I've read that kit OGs are usually inaccurate due to poor mixing of the malt and water. I've just taken a reading today (and take my first sip :)), 5 days in and it's in at 1.018 which seems to be on track.
I've read on other forums that most kits will have roughly the same OG when prepared. So, can anyone give me some insight on what the realistic OG of the Blond Lager kit is? I've had a look around and can't see any figures from the Craft Range guys themselves.
All info appreciated!
They are usually dependant on amount of water you add, I'll let the kit Professor, LE answer your question as there may be other issues?
BTW you are very welcome to the forum and congrats on losing your cherry so to speak, where did you get that name from?, on second thoughts...
What temp was the wort at when you took the reading ? that can affect you og shown on the hydrometer .
Hydrometer Temperature Adjustment Calculator.
http://www.brewersfriend.com/hydrometer-temp/ (http://www.brewersfriend.com/hydrometer-temp/)
Bahah I always forget my username sounds sketchy. It's just a play on my surname that people used to call me :)
I took the temperature at roughly 28° and the wort is 23L in total. After using the adjustment calculator, the figure still seems a bit low. I wonder if I siphoned the sample from the top, as opposed to using the tap on the bottom, would the sample be more accurate? I'll have to try that in my next kit.
There's a review on that kit here (http://www.nationalhomebrewclub.ie/forum/index.php/topic,6946.msg88092.html#msg88092).
I 'd had this kit since february just put it on on saturday afternoon, I'm no super duper expert by my read on the hydro is about 1.042 / 1.044 so that seems about right to get the 4.3 / 4.4 % stated on box
Yeah, the craft range seem to hit around 1.040-1.045 OG, so I wouldn't worry too much about it being 1.038
would it do any harm to add some additional hops to this?? I'm sure I have some spare pellets about, not sure which I have any suggestions if I was to add some extra or a different kind altogether than what came with the kit ?
I've monitored the gravity since my post and it's pretty much stuck at 1.016 for the past 5 days so I'm just going to bottle up. Looking at a final ABV of 3.5% which is disappointing. I'll have to read back on my notes and figure out where I went wrong.
Just bottled mine today. Fg looks about .014 / .016 Ish. Threw in a 20g summit hop tea bag as well as the kit hops. Hope it turns out ok
Did ye correct readings for temperature?
No. There's an online calculator for that isn't there
Quote from: RobShamrock on September 06, 2015, 07:30:30 PM
No. There's an online calculator for that isn't there
Yep. I use this one http://www.brewersfriend.com/hydrometer-temp/ (http://www.brewersfriend.com/hydrometer-temp/)
Just spotted that Pepin posted the same link earlier in the thread. (Note to self, read full thread before posting )
Link is still useful tho
me bad, was reading on my phone should have read back up the thread
How did this brew turn out for you?
Wasn't a huge fan but since it was the first kit I brewed, I'd put that down to process rather than the product. Looking back, I think it's odd they give a lager yeast with this kit. I'd probably toss the yeast included and use US-05 instead. They call it a lager on the box, but in reality it never will be.
Quote from: BrewDorg on March 01, 2016, 02:41:26 PM
Wasn't a huge fan but since it was the first kit I brewed, I'd put that down to process rather than the product. Looking back, I think it's odd they give a lager yeast with this kit. I'd probably toss the yeast included and use US-05 instead. They call it a lager on the box, but in reality it never will be.
Its my first brew too and its nearly 3 weeks in the FV with little or no movement on the gravity.
Everyone is telling me to leave it and wait, but my patience is wearing thin. Its sitting at a solid 18 degrees, whereas the instructions said 22 degrees. Im tempted to get a brew belt and get it up to 22 before I dry hop and bottle.
You've had your 7 days, throwing hops in is a complete waste imho, you'll just have sweet hoppy low abv beer
For some reason your yeast crapped out, it could have been that it was too hot or cold to start with when you pitched the packet or too cold during fermentation.
Do you have a good thermometer?
What does it taste like?