I give up four beer four low fg

[johnc66]

The only reason I was thinking AG was the talk of old extract.
Do you all think I should switch to liquid yeast and or a starter?

Order an extract kit from Northern Brewer or B3, it'll come with everything you need and great instructions. All the ingredients will be fresh. You never know how long those cans have sat around... plus like it has been said go with the liquid yeast much better results...

Keep the faith bud, it'll happen.

[Henning1966]

I would not worry about old extract from midwest they have total turn over every 2 weeks. They get the same extract that northern brewer gets for there kits. It come from the same barrels. Petterson honey I know for a fact packages midwest's bulk extract. Take this from a brewer that pretty much gets all his supplies from them. Here is a quote off of there faq page.

"Our malt extract is made by Briess Malting Company from Chilton, Wisconsin. Peterson honey of Minnesota fills the 3.3 and 6 pound jugs and delivers them to our store every 2 weeks. Peterson honey already has the sanitary food repacking facilities to provide this service to Midwest. Peterson Honey orders the barrels of malt extract from Briess on a monthly basis."

[jobiewon]

i thought it tasted watery wife said tasted great

[BrewTa2]

Here is THE question: How are you measuring your gravity?

[DannyW]

If it is anything close to watery then it is not at 1.030. 1.030 would taste like more like soda pop.

Might be time for a new hydrometer, or at least calibrate the one you have. Should say 1.000 in plain water at 60 or 68F.

[WitsEnd]

What Danny said...

At 1.030 with a 1.042 starting gravity, it's not going to taste very much like beer and DEFINITELY not be thin and watery. I will be completely flat out of the fermenter, which might make it feel lifeless, but it shouldn't be watery.

Check your hydrometer in water, it should read 1.000, or at least very close. Make sure you're reading the right scale.

Nottingham dried yeast should plow through fermenation well. Sounds like you pitched warm at 80F, it probably fermented out very quickly and may have a bit of a harsh hot alcohol bite to it. I'd recommend cooling down to about 5F below what you want to be fermenting at to pitch, in your case 65F. Be sure that you're not crashing the temp in the fermenter. A quick drop in temperature will send the yeast into hibernation. I don't think a drop from 80F to 70F would be enough to crash the yeast, but it might.

[jobiewon]

I think it might have the answer. I was racking my brain. and remembered if i got some of the trub in my test jar via shucking some up in my thief. Could that have thrown. my gravity off. Hydrometer testes 1.000. I fill my test jar and I hold my hydrometer between index and thumb and spin it into the jar. I just want to every one that has tried to help me thank you. Home brewers are very helpful and I will keep you all posted on my brew to let you know. And Again THANK YOU for your help. I am a newbie and I need it

[BrewTa2]

if i got some of the trub in my test jar via shucking some up in my thief. Could that have thrown. my gravity off.

Yep, that's your answer. Also CO2 bubbles will do it too. Spinning helps, just make sure there's none clinging to the hydro.