I've brewed a couple a 40 pint kits, had a problem with the last one as I overtighten the keg cap and have just sorted the seal and added more primming sugar to start it off again. I was wondering if you could beef up the ABV up a bit on the basic kits, I have read that you can add less water (36pints) but I would like some advice on the best methods to do this. I don't want head banging brew just good tasting ale at around 5.5 to 6% ABV. Any help would be appreciated. Cheers.
Want a stonger brew
- Thread starter Georgie
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CptnCrackoff
Regular.
hi, i dont have as much experience as alot of the guys on here, i have however cut down a Youngs definative Bitter kit to 33ltrs, it was damn good!!
good luck
jon
good luck
jon
CptnCrackoff
Regular.
hi, yes all i did was cut down the added cold water so the final count was 33ltrs, everything else was the same, i didnt unfortunatly take readings for that particular brew, it was strong, and full of body, it would probably be alright at 34-35 pints if anything 33 was a little too strong for some of my mates!!
jonewer
Landlord.
You can increase the ABV by adding some sugar.
Roughly speaking, 500g sugar will give you an extra 1% ABV per 5 gallon brew.
Beware though that putting lots of sugar in will affect the body and texture of the brew.
Roughly speaking, 500g sugar will give you an extra 1% ABV per 5 gallon brew.
Beware though that putting lots of sugar in will affect the body and texture of the brew.
Bribie
Well-Known Member
If it's a 40 pint ale kit where you would normally add a kilo of sugar, you can boost the strength by adding extra fermentables in the form of a dextrose / dry spray malt mix. So instead of a kilo of sugar you could use, say, 750g of dex (glucose) plus 750 of dry spray malt. That would give you a bit more body as well, and you still get the 40 pints.
The extra malt could give a bit of sweetness so you could also look at adding some dry hop pellets (say 15 grams of Goldings etc etc) - boil them for 15 minutes in some water and strain into the fermenter towards the end of fermentation - to make the beer more 'balanced'.
The extra malt could give a bit of sweetness so you could also look at adding some dry hop pellets (say 15 grams of Goldings etc etc) - boil them for 15 minutes in some water and strain into the fermenter towards the end of fermentation - to make the beer more 'balanced'.
evanvine
Landlord.
Replacing Malt with Sugar was how the big commercials ruined their brews.
They also had to add extra hopss!
They also had to add extra hopss!
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