Help with first brew

[TheDarkSide]

The description on Morebeer list 9 lbs of LME. When I plug into Promash, I get a post boil gravity of 1.063. What else is in this kit that would push it up to 1.071?

[808brew]

Let's see if I can get caught up on all the great feedback.

I did thoroughly mix the top off water prior to testing with 2 minutes of agitation.
I used both a refractomer and a hydrometer so I am pretty sure I'm on the numbers.
I also used a marked carboy.

I have been taking all the info I can get seriously so I tried to play by the rules.

In addition to the 9 lbs. of Ultralight, there was the 1.5 lbs. of Crystal and .5 lb of Honey Malt grain. I am too new to be able to tell you what else can contribute to the high number, it comes from More Beer.

Thanks for the ratios on the sugar, I need to study this a bit more, but the info is exactly what I needed to make an educated decision. I cook a lot and am too used to throwing things together so I've had to back up and learn this all from scratch.

Thank you all for the great feedback.

This is why I love the BN Army.

[Dubba_Brew]

One last thought...
If you got this from B3, then the malt is in their silver pouch. If you don't do the old toothpaste tube roll-up to get as much of the LME out of there, you could end up leaving a good bit behind. That's about the only other thing I can think of.

[Dirk McLargeHuge]

All I can think of is you added too much water. That's usually what I do. Even if the bucket is marked with gallon marks (assuming it was a bucket) it may have been misprinted.

When you're finished, you might calibrate the bucket. Of course, you'll have to calibrate the container your are calibrating with, and so on and so on and so on.

[bcmaui]

My first batch in the B3 kit I was off on the water (not enough) as I used a 4 cup measuring cup from the kitchen to calculate my 6 gallons of water (or 24 scoops). My gravity was a bit higher on this first batch.

For the second batch I went to the restaurant supply store and purchased a 1 gallon plastic measuring cup and found out that I was 2 or 3 scoops shy on my first batch (1/2 to 3/4 gallon) which would explain the high gravity (I do not top off at this time). I either miscounted, or there was less precision with 24 scoops.

Now with 6 buckets of carbon filtered water I am hitting gravity within a point or two of the recipe, although by the time I rack I am getting less than 5 gallons as I am may be leaving a little too much liquid behind as I try to avoid moving the trub and yeast that settles out in the bottom of the carboy.

I am drawing the hyrdometer sample from the middle of the transfer now and let it sit for an hour and let all the stuff settle to the bottom and get to air temp, the first batch I took the reading right away from the first runnings from the kettle and the crap in the hydrometer might not have settled out completely before I took the measurement.

In my experience I am hitting gravity right on with the B3 kits and I start with 6 Gallons, but end up with less than 5 at the end. Some is lost in the boil and some goes out with the steeping grains and some is in my false bottom. This last batch I added 1/2 gallon 20-30 minutes through the boil to get to the volume up - I ended up with 5 gallons, but a lower gravity.

With the kits, I am more interested in hitting gravity at this time, not volume. As I move to self made recipes I will adjust ingredients to dial in the volume down the road.

[808brew]

Yesterday I ordered a 10 gallon kettle so I can go to a full boil versus the partial. This should help with the error associated with the incremental measuring. I am beginning to think that this may have been part of the delta on the OG, but since it was my first time, I am not sure how much a pint or two affects things. The full kettle whould really streamline the process and delete some of the variables.

It's bubbling away though, so I am very happy so far. I am going to target week after next for the 2nd batch. Haven't ordered the kit yet, but need to do so shortly.

Thanks for the feedback.

[TheTodd]

I brewed my first beer today

First of all, congratulations on that.

It is the Frank Ellis "Kicked-Up" American Pale Ale with an OG of 1.071

Secondly, kudos for jumping in with a big beer!

As far as your question on your OG goes, the only other thing I could think of that might affect it is your steeping time and temp for your Crystal and Honey malts, but you say you hit all your temps, so I assume that means for steeping as well.

Hopefully, by now you've done the sugar addition on this batch. If not, don't sweat it. If you did everything cleanly and get a good fermentation, you're going to have good beer. It may be a little drier than intended or have more of a hop character than you were hoping for, but it'll still taste better than just about any other beer you've ever had.

[808brew]

UPDATE
I had added the sugar later Monday which may have been a day early. I also shook up everything when I added the sugar which I am not sure I should have done as it mixed up the layer on the top. I was assuming that I needed to mix this into the contents thoroughly.

At the end of Today (day 4.5 days) the fermentation has slowed to a crawl (4 bubbles a minute). I took a sample and got about 1.020. I need to retest again to double check, but I am thinking that fermentation should have lasted longer than this. I am going to let it set for a shile until it stops and drops out I guess unless anyone else has other thoughts.

I am probably over-reacting as I am treating this like my first child, but is has been a great initial learning experience. I ordered my next kit today as i need to get a few more of these under my belt to get comfortable I think. Hopefully the 10G kettle comes soon so I can get rid of the partial boil.

Thanks