How badly did I pooch this brew?

[Chubber]

OK, here is the story:

I just bought a converted keg, etc. from a previous brewer and this was my first time with this equipment, plus my first time doing a full-wort boil. I was brewing a pumpkin beer. I made two major mistakes:

1) I misread the recipe and put all two ounces of hops in at the beginning of the boil. And I put them into a tight white hop bag, too. (The first time I have done that, but I got one for free from the guy who sold me the kettle) When I went to get my flavor hops at 50 min, I didn't have any and discovered that I was supposed to do 1 oz to start and 1 oz to end. The hops that did boil were kind of tight in the bag and didn't darken as I am used to 60 minute boil hops to do.

2) I put in an extra gallon of water when measuring, so I missed my OG by about 20 points, 1.038 instead of 1.055 or so. I know I should have just boiled it longer, but I didn't realize that I had too much wort until I ran the wort into the carboy and about 1.5 gallons were still left. (I really need to get a good volume measurement going on my keg.)

So, it is fermenting right now and doing pretty well. It smelled nice and pumpkiny. My biggest worry is that the lack of any aroma hops and not enough extraction on the boil hops will make it spoil too quickly.

What are your thoughts on it?

[HogieWan]

wel, you DID double the bittering hops, so, even with bad extraction, it's probably more bitter than you wanted to begin with.

AFA the extra water, just bottle in bombers and drink from a bigger glass.

I use a converted keg as a kettle. I usually sparge up to the seam (15.5 gal keg - half of which is 7.75) and then boil for ~75 min. I hit hit 5.25 gallons on the nose into primary.

[Mill Rat]

Originally posted by Chubber
I really need to get a good volume measurement going on my keg.

I have a long stainless steel scale (a "ruler" for those who are not engineers or machinists) that I use. I filled my kettle a gallon at a time and measured the distance from the top of the kettle to the top of the liquid with each gallon, and noted scale reading versus gallons on a chart. I now just use that scale like a dipstick to find out how much is in the kettle.

[dparsons]

Probably not as bad as you think. It may even come out better.

Like Hogie said, you doubled your bittering addition but didn't get as much extraction because of the bag. Given the lack of a late hop addition, it will probably be a bit more bitter but likely not too much so.

Since its a "flavored" beer, your "flavoring" ingredients will stand out more. Many "flavored" beers have less or no aroma hops. Witbiers, Stouts, and spiced ales are good examples.

The only way you'll know how it comes out is to let it follow its course.

[Mad Scientist]

I suppose you could call it a pumpkin mild.....

[Chubber]

Originally posted by Boerne Brew
I suppose you could call it a pumpkin mild.....

Actually, I am not as unhappy with the low OG as long as it finishes with just enough FG to not be too dry. Sweet is a good compliment to the spices and if it ends up too dry it might be more like a pumpkin saison. (Not too bad to contemplate).

[Chubber]

Originally posted by dparsons

Many "flavored" beers have less or no aroma hops. Witbiers, Stouts, and spiced ales are good examples.


I had originally thought that this was the case. It is pretty well spiced (3 oz of fresh ginger, 1 tsp of cinnamon, 1/4 tsp of nutmeg) I thought that the lack of aroma hops was natural for the style (my first with this style). Then, upon closer read I learned of the lack.

Hey, it is just a recipe. I am getting ready to rack it some time this weekend, Ill have to see what my FG is and how the flavors are when I do. Ill keep everyone updated.

[kujo]

Originally posted by HogieWan
wel, you DID double the bittering hops, so, even with bad extraction, it's probably more bitter than you wanted to begin with.

AFA the extra water, just bottle in bombers and drink from a bigger glass.

I use a converted keg as a kettle. I usually sparge up to the seam (15.5 gal keg - half of which is 7.75) and then boil for ~75 min. I hit hit 5.25 gallons on the nose into primary.


Hey, HogieWan - you might wanna measure that again if you haven't. I just found out after missing my OG for the second time in a row that the "seam" is actually further up than halfway. The rounded bottom on *my* keg holds 2 gallons by itself, and the seam is at exactly 8.5 gallons. We've been diluting our wort going into the boiler!

Just a tip in case you come across similar symptoms.

[Mad Scientist]

Originally posted by kujo
Hey, HogieWan - you might wanna measure that again if you haven't. I just found out after missing my OG for the second time in a row that the "seam" is actually further up than halfway. The rounded bottom on *my* keg holds 2 gallons by itself, and the seam is at exactly 8.5 gallons. We've been diluting our wort going into the boiler!

Just a tip in case you come across similar symptoms.

Something I'll have to test as well, since I sparge the same way. What brand was your keg originally?

[Vienna Lager]

My cooker is a keg cut off about 3/4 the way up and is easier to handle. I put a gallon of water in at a time and started marking at the 3 gal. mark with a punch then at the 6 gal. mark all the way up to 9 gal. After I emptied the water out I used one of those electric pens and scribed a line at the correct mark and put the number corresponding to the gallonage next to the line.

[HogieWan]

Originally posted by Boerne Brew
Something I'll have to test as well, since I sparge the same way. What brand was your keg originally?

Mine is an AB keg. Whatever the line represents, it works.

[Mad Scientist]

I have a Coors.....

[Vienna Lager]

WTF B Brew, arn't there any Lone Star kegs in TX.? Too bad you had to resort to a 'Girly Man' keg. (just kidding)