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Beer/start up specific gravity too high

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Expert: - 3/17/2008


Question
This is only the 4th time I tried from a kit 1 succeeded and 2 just so so.
Tonight I Started a Brewers spring - Mexican Lager vineco.on.ca kit.  By mistake I have 26 l instead of 23 l .  I have not put in the yeast  and the spec g is 1.6 temp is 20c Can I proceed ??  I am in Ottawa Ontario Canada area  Thanks Dwayne

Answer
Dwaine:

Sure, SP is just the measure of the fermentable sugar in the wort.  It will ferment out and the alcohol content will be a bit higher.  The alternative is just add some spring water to dilute it.

Just a note, the lager beers you are brewing are tough to get right.
Lighter bodied home brews will show ever little fault in the beer. Besides I don't think you can home brew them for less than the price at the store.  I personally brew alot of belgian ales.  They are $8 or more per bottle retail, I can brew them for about $1 and they keep a good long while, up to 5-10 years! They are of course more like wine in the alcohol content, pushing 9-12%.

You should only really worry if you starting gravity is tool low, the beer will probably be weak and watery tasting for the style.

Keith

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Keith Patton

Expertise

I have been home brewing 21 years. I followed the traditional path from kit to extract to all grain and undoubtably experience all the typical problems. I can answer questions on home Brewing Techniques, all grain, partial mash and extract brews, formulating recipes, cloning commercial beers, kegging, bottling, home brew equipment, clarifying, trouble shooting beer and conducting tastings. I have brewed just about every style imaginable.

Experience

I have home brewed for 21 years. I owned my own beer pub for 5 years. I lived in Munich, Germany for 3 years. I host a brew club at work with 10 member brewers as well a participate in another club with over 50 members. I have a all stainless steel single tier 15 gallon RIMS system.

Organizations
American Home Brewer's Association Cane Island Alers home brew club Seismic Micro Brewers home brew club

Education/Credentials
MS in geology with experience in water chemistry. I have lived abroad and have been exposed to a number of beer drinking cultures.

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