Adjusting OG

Sometimes the targeted OG (Original Gravity) is not achieved.

What should I do?

How to adjust the OG?

Reaching different OG than expected or different OG from the recipe you followed can happens due to several factors:

• Efficiency of our process is not the same as used in the used recipe.

• The kind of grinded grains were not like expected.

• The grains quality

• Not appropriated grinded grains storage (oxide due to the long time contact with Oxygen).

• Wrong mashing temperature (low or high starch conversion to simple sugar)

• Etc.

3 possibilities are thinkable about the measured OG (Original Gravity) after boiling...

1. OG is according to the recipe

Perfect!!! Nothing to do/adjust.

2. OG is too high

How to decrease the OG of the wort (measured OG is higher than targeted)

• Just add water in the wort.

3. OG is too low

How to increase the OG of the wort (measured OG is lower than targeted)

• You can add DME (Dried Malt Extract) or LME (Liquid Malt Extract) in the wort

One pound (0,5 kg) of dry malt extract will add approximately 1.008 specific gravity points per 5 gallons (19 liters), and one pound (0,5 kg) of liquid malt extract will add approximately 1.007 specific gravity points per 5 gallons (19 liters).

Adding malt extract the following may occur:

• 1. • Increases the overall body of the beer

     • Results in a higher finishing gravity

     • Sweeter malt taste

     • Potentially have a less perceived hop bitterness

     • Can add a spicy flavor and aroma

     • Could increase alcohol warmth

• You can add fermentable sugar in the wort

Simple sugars are another great option to increase the OG or boost ABV. One pound (0,5 kg) of sugar adds approximately 1.009 specific gravity points per 5 gallons (19 liters).

If you do add more of simple sugars (ie. corn sugar, Dextrose, table sugar, honey, Brewer's Crystals) the following may occur:

• • • Increased dryness

    • The decreased overall body in the beer

    • Increased perceived hop bitterness

    • Too many simple sugars can result in poor fermentation

    • Spicy flavor and aroma as well as increased alcohol warmth

• You can let the wort boiling a little bit more time to keep water evaporating, making the wort more concentrated, but it will reduce the final volume of the wort, consequently less volume of beer.