All grain gravity is it 'real'

[PieOPah]

If you make good beer how can you ever be consistently wrong...if you make a batch and decide it needed a higher original gravity then as long as you are consistent the next time you measure it you can make an appropriate increase in gravity by not diluting the wort as much...dont forget we are homebrewers, we don't have to answer to HMCE

Words of the wise again

[SteveD]

Does it really matter though as long as you are consistent.

Guess not, just making the point that in future im going to leave my boils consistently for 90 mins (thats what i get listening to american forums and their advocation of 60 min boils )

The Americans don't know what the F**k they're talking about sometimes. Gear and technique obsessed, but with no deep understanding. Look at their IPA's. Massively strong and hugely bitter - missing the point entirely. Imperial IPA...even bigger, even more undrinkable. Their European based beer styles bear resemblance to the originals, but are almost always a bit 'more'. More gravity, more bitter, more hop aroma, more of everything. They have a more is more culture, and it reflects in their beer....Apart from 'American pilsner' (pissner) which is an insult to the original.

[steve_flack]

A bit unfair as many of the best beers I've tasted have been American 'craft brews'. They could certainly wipe the floor with 80% of the beer that gets sold in pubs here.

And FWIW, I've used 60 minute boils for years now and have never had a problem.

[SteveD]

Sorry Steve, I was feeling a bit bolshy. Yes, they do make great beers, no doubt about it but also can have a tendency go over the top in the areas I mentioned.

Less aggresive? Good. I feel better now.

[steve_flack]

can have a tendency go over the top in the areas I mentioned.

They can indeed and not every one's a winner definitely but generally they do make great beers.

[delboy]

A bit unfair as many of the best beers I've tasted have been American 'craft brews'. They could certainly wipe the floor with 80% of the beer that gets sold in pubs here.

And FWIW, I've used 60 minute boils for years now and have never had a problem.

Didn't really say it was a problem was just making an observation of the whole 60min boil thing in relation to this thread.

[PieOPah]

While I didn't brew an All Grain beer, it was an extract brwe with speciality grains steeped. Also, I didn't cool like I normally would (topped up to required volume and left for a few hours to come down to pitching temp).

I have taken a gravity reading and left the hydrometer in the sample jar overnight. The reading HAS NOT CHANGED.

This would indicate (but is not conclusive) that any bits floating in the sample will effect the reading and the only way to get a clear reading wil be to leave the sample to settle first.