first extract brewing problems

[Brotherton Lad]

These hydro readings aren't making much sense, if you added the 920g of DME yesterday. Are you sure you're on the right scale on the hydrometer and not reading the oz of sugar per gallon scale instead of the degrees of gravity one?

Have you tested the hydro in water at 20 C to make sure it reads 1000?

[clivel]

but should i add more dme now? i added an additional 920g yesterday - would another kg be ok? how much dme would i need to add to get an abv of around 3.5% say - (assuming 1.024 was og and ive added an additional 920g? or should i just leave it now?

[clivel]

Thanks for all this advice - great help. I added the extra sugar as suggested but now, some 8 or 9 days down the line I think the fermentation has stuck (1.012) !! What I've read on line this seems to be about unfermentable sugars etc ...??? And the general opinion seems to be to add a beer enzyme? which will break down molecules and thus allow a bit more fermentation???
So my question is, before I add this enzyme - should I syphon off the wort into a new fv? or do I just throw it in to the pot now for a couple of days???

Thanks again
and for what its worth I'm drinking the results of my first brew- a Muntons Wheat Beer Kit ("not fizzy enough" - the wife)

[potatoes]

are you sure its stuck? You kind of added more malt after the fermentation started and this would mess up your FG reading. Also, 1.012 does seem too far off done. I would be inclined to rack to secondary, if that is what you do. Or just leave it and bottle when its been there for a couple of weeks.

[EoinMag]

I'm pretty sure you've made an error in the mixing, as the heavy liquid extract can sit at the bottom of the fermenter and you get a wrong reading, and secondly if you have used 3kg of liquid malt extract for the brew, I would pretty much bet it should have been 3.6 kg and not 3kg, 3kg will have been for dried malt extract.

[clivel]

Many thanks for all your help on this - the said, or sad, beer is now in a barrel and I'll see what it tastes like in a few weeks!! Next off a shot at all grain - going to borrow a mate's mash tun and have a bash at all grain!!

Once more thanks for the invaluable advice - very much appreciated!

[slowdrinker]

Hi Clive,
I've just raised a new thread with a similar problem - titled 'help - low OG'. I had a similar experience to you - added the malt extract (dried in my case) as per the recipe. I'm sure it was correct, but gave an OG of 1020 where is was supposed to be nearer 1038. I put in an extra kilo of extract (actually a kilo of beer kit enhancer) the same day. haven't measured the new OG yet - waiting for the liquor i mixed up to cool before adding it back in to the FV.

I'd love to know if your beer turned out to be drinkable ?