[captnjohnny1618]

Ok,

So I'm not THAT new to home brewing (definitely new to the forum though) to know that this is messed up.  I thought that I had originally messed up my brown ale when I got an OG reading of ~1.025 from what should have been 1.046-1.050.  I went ahead an pitched the yeast though just figuring I'd have a slightly watered down tasting beer.  But what's even weirder is that I'm now, a week later, getting a specific gravity reading of 1.030.  I'm using a slightly modified "Elbro Nerkte" Recipe from The Complete Joy of Homebrewing. 

I know the initial screw up with the OG was from topping off improperly, but what could the strange SG reading be due to?  Also, the beer seems to still be fermenting when the recipe claims it should have finished in about 4-7 days? There's still a ton of yeast in suspension!

Thanks for any help,
John

[jwatkins56550]

Let me get this straight.  You measured your starting gravity at around 1.025 after topping up your beer with water.  And a week later, you measured your beer at 1.030 correct?  It sounds to me that after you topped up for fermenter, the sample you took for your starting gravity had a lot of water from your topping up in it.

[captnjohnny1618]

That's exactly what seems to be going on.  I shook it around, made sure it was aerated though which I feel like should have taken care of the mixing issue... but still I suppose that could be what happened.  Why then would it still seem to be fermenting after a week or so (w/ ale yeast) and still be way above the suggested final gravity?

[dbeechum]

Well, you probably are having a funky ferment which did successfully finish the stirring process. Give it more time and come back to it.

[euge]

When I read the OP poorly mixed wort came to mind. This can happen when there are temperature differences that are compounded by the specific gravity of wort when diluted. Like mixing a syrup into cold water. A paint-stirrer and a cordless drill can mix up some wort purty good. Try it...

[a10t2]

I guess we're all assuming you're using extract - if so your OG was fine, just thrown off by the water.

A 1.030 FG is a more serious issue. What yeast did you use, how much, and what are the temperatures like?

If it seems to be fermenting still, you may want to warm it into the high 60s or low 70s and swirl it occasionally, to make sure the yeast stay active.

[denny]

I wouldn't worry about the gravity for another week or so...

[captnjohnny1618]

I used a White Labs Pacific Ale Yeast.  The temperature has been a constant 72 degrees where the fermenter sits.  I won't have time to bottle until next weekend so letting it sit more is a non-issue.  Just seems like this whole batch it weird.  I'm definitely not going to bottle if it seems like it's still fermenting and has a FG of 1.030

[euge]

Give it a few more days. Seems a little warm at 72F for that type of yeast. Maybe the upper end?

I'd suggest getting it a little cooler too but then why not just let it play out and not mess with it? Could do more harm at this point.

[Dbbrewing]

Yes just give it more time and remember RDWHAHB (relax don't worry have a homebrew).

[BrewArk]

How hot was the wort when you first measured it?  Hot liquids are thinner than cool ones.

[euge]

How hot was the wort when you first measured it?  Hot liquids are thinner than cool ones.

Oh yes +1 !!

That can certainly throw things off. Buy a refractometer cheap and easy off ebay.

[captnjohnny1618]

Wort was about at 80 degrees.  The correction for my hydrometer should only be about +.003 give or take one.  So that would ony account for a maximum possible gravity of 1.028 or 1.029.  Things seems to be slowing down a bit in the carboy though so maybe by friday it'll have finished and give a better gravity reading than previously. 

I tasted it last friday when I took the 1.030 reading and it definitely did taste like slightly watery beer, but definitely still drinkable (no worse than what half the people here at college drink on a regular basis).  I'm definitely planning to bottle it.  Would there be anything weird that could happen in the bottles? Over/under carbonation etc?

Thanks!

[tygo]

I'm definitely planning to bottle it.  Would there be anything weird that could happen in the bottles? Over/under carbonation etc?

Thanks!

Just make sure it's completely done fermenting before you bottle it.  Wait until the airlock activity has mostly tapered off and the beer has cleared and then take a hydrometer reading a couple/few days in a row.  If the reading is unchanged then its done and you're good to bottle.  If you jump the gun you could end up with bottle bombs.

I wouldn't think 1.030 beer would taste too watery.

[nicneufeld]

I wouldn't think 1.030 beer would taste too watery.

Certainly right there.  If the ferment still looks active let it do its thing, keep it from getting too cold, etc.  I'd have to bet the original reading was a fluke somehow, 1.025 would be an extremely small beer.  Might be tasty, albeit, yes, quite light.