Using a kit to make Lager, I mis-read the instructions and added 2 kg sugar instead of 2 lbs. Started the process off about 5 days ago. Should I just throw the whole thing away, or can it be saved somehow?
Any advice please?
Too Much Sugar
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BarryNL
Re: Too Much Sugar
It may turn out OK. If the fermentation goes OK you will just end up with a very strong lager. The main worries are poor fermentation and off flavours.
For the fermentation, the supplied yeast may not be sufficient to cope with the increased level of sugars in the wort and it may finish at a high gravity - you need to check the gravity after a couple of weeks - hopefully for a lager it should be under about 1.012 - if it finishes up around 1.020 you may find it too sweet and cloying to drink.
The other problem is that large quantities of sugar can cause a flavour of apples or cider in the lager - you will only know this by letting it ferment out and tasting it.
So, certainly not a definite disaster and well worth letting it finish and bottling it - only time will tell if it's actually drinkable.
For the fermentation, the supplied yeast may not be sufficient to cope with the increased level of sugars in the wort and it may finish at a high gravity - you need to check the gravity after a couple of weeks - hopefully for a lager it should be under about 1.012 - if it finishes up around 1.020 you may find it too sweet and cloying to drink.
The other problem is that large quantities of sugar can cause a flavour of apples or cider in the lager - you will only know this by letting it ferment out and tasting it.
So, certainly not a definite disaster and well worth letting it finish and bottling it - only time will tell if it's actually drinkable.
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sparky Paul
Re: Too Much Sugar
Welcome to the forum! 
I agree with BarryNL, you might as well let it go now, stick it in PET bottles and forget about it for a while. It will be potent stuff, and at that strength you might need to leave it the bottle for a month or two for it to mellow out a bit. The 'cidery' taste will also tend to reduce with age.
I suppose it all depends on your definition of 'drinkable', but I'd have a go at anything...
I agree with BarryNL, you might as well let it go now, stick it in PET bottles and forget about it for a while. It will be potent stuff, and at that strength you might need to leave it the bottle for a month or two for it to mellow out a bit. The 'cidery' taste will also tend to reduce with age.
I suppose it all depends on your definition of 'drinkable', but I'd have a go at anything...
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chobson
Re: Too Much Sugar
Many thanks for your replies. I will follow all your helpful suggestions and keep my fingers crossed!
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Stringy Bob
Re: Too Much Sugar
Am I the only one who thinks of The Selecter when I read this thread title? 
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sparky Paul
Re: Too Much Sugar
That's showing your age...Stringy Bob wrote:Am I the only one who thinks of The Selecter when I read this thread title?