Approximate strength of kit beers

[silkyuk9]

What is the approx strenrth of kit beers. i do not have any alcohol strength equipment so i never know what the content is. Ive got 50 pints of Tom Caxton bitter and 50 pints of Youngs lager that i made from those tin of hops stuff.

I know John's Smiths bitter is aound 4.3%, is this the approx strength of kit beers and lagers when you add a 1kg bag of sugar.

Also what would happen if you added more sugar to the start of the fermentation process, say an extra 1/2kg. would it still work or not.

[vacant]

You can get a rough idea if you buy a hydrometer. Measure before pitching the yeast (Original gravity = OG) and agin before you bottle or keg (final gravity = FG). There's a formula to work it out

( OG - FG ) x 1.3 + 0.5

so ( 1040 - 1008 ) x 0.133 + 0.5 = 4.8

The 0.5 is for the priming sugar

[andyjc]

Think John Smiths is about 4% alcohol.................

[Graham]

Malt extract is quite specific in its gravity so to speak, so:

a 1.5 Kg kit with 1kg sugar = og 1036 but will give about 4.7% alcohol max
a 1.8 Kg kit with 1kg sugar = og 1040 but will give about 5.1% alcohol max

If you use malt extract rather than sugar, gravity will be almost the same but alcohol will be less.

a 3.0 Kg kit with no sugar = og 1040 but will give about 4.1% alcohol max

All at 5 gallons.

[booldawg]

The way I work it out is last 2 numerals in OG - last 2 numerals in FG divided by 7.45 eg; OG 1048 and FG 1005 = 48-05 = 43, 43 / 7.45 = 5.7% ABV Is this a fairly correct formula?

[vacant]

The way I work it out is last 2 numerals in OG - last 2 numerals in FG divided by 7.45 eg; OG 1048 and FG 1005 = 48-05 = 43, 43 / 7.45 = 5.7% ABV Is this a fairly correct formula?

Yes, dividing by 7.45 is much the same as multiplying by 0.133. If that's your FG when it's ready for drinking, then you're done.

I only measure FG to work out when fermentation has stopped, so I add 0.5% to estimate the finished product as the priming sugar I'm about to add will make it a bit stronger over the next few days after it's been bottled.