Getting 5% or above with Wherry?

[monkhouse]

Hi, im gonna start another Woodfordes Wherry kit tomorrow and although the box abv states 4.5% abv i would like to know what i can do to push it up to 5%?
IE, how many lltres to top fv up to- 20l, 18l?
also anything else i can do to help it gain more %... The reason im using the Wherry is simply that i love this kit and have never had any problems brewing is as per kit instructions in the past!
Thanks guys!

[Matt12398]

You can add malt extract but why do you want to increase the ABV? If you love Wherry then brew Wherry.

[millemg]

viewtopic.php?f=4&t=55039

[Belter]

I think you have a drinking problem

[monkhouse]

I think you have a drinking problem

That's nice man thanks for the helpful advice.

I do like the wherry but all I'm asking for is advice to up the abv a little, as in how many pints to brew to gain 5% instead of 4.5%.

[woblylegs]

short brew it down from 23 ltrs. to 21 and you should get the abv

[lee1]

21l is the plan for my next wherry

[ebbadger]

Just brewed a wherry to 21 litres , purely as a corny is 19 litres and i anticipated a bit of loss, gravity was 1.046 and it has ended at 1.010 which i make 5% dead, wasn't aiming for a stronger brew but hoped to get a nice flavour as ive seen a few say its been watery, only just in secondary so time will tell....... also done a newcastle brown wherry 3 can kit but will do seperate post n not hijack

cheers steve

[monkhouse]

Does anyone recommend re-hydrating the yeast prior to pitching with this one? Anyone's input on how they personally re-hydrate yeast would be great, ta!

[PaddyX21]

Add the yeast to 100ml of (boiled and then cooled) water @ 30-35°C
Leave to stand for 15mins
Stir and then leave for additional 5mins
If temperature difference is less than 10°C then pitch immediately, other wise force cool (in 10°C /5min steps) and pitch asap.

It's not a direct copy&paste, but these are the instructions off the Danstar website, I followed them last night and have about 1" of krausen after 9 hours.
I just bunged the yeast in dry when I did the wherry though, was no issue.

Also Ebbadger: ((1.05 * (1.046 – 1.010)) / 1.010) / 0.79 x 100 = 4.7% ABV (calculation from wikipedia)
or the calculation that I (and plenty of others) use: (1046-1010)x0.131 = 4.7% ABV

[ebbadger]

Also Ebbadger: ((1.05 * (1.046 – 1.010)) / 1.010) / 0.79 x 100 = 4.7% ABV (calculation from wikipedia)
or the calculation that I (and plenty of others) use: (1046-1010)x0.131 = 4.7% ABV

Thx Paddy....thats interesting as I was using the calculation from my first steps in winemaking book, but will double check later, may have misread... also throws the woodfordes claim up in the air a little as making the wherry mixed as standard to 23 litres no added sugar gives 1.044 (unless I am in need of a new hydro??) and assuming a ferment to woodfordes stated 1.014 that means their brew would be 3.9% not the claimed 4.5?????? guess its like any advertising lol

Cheers Steve

[halffullfv]

hi just bottling a wherry 6% 750g d.s.m brewed to 20ltrs used wilko ale yeast (notts i think) measured at 1052 sg and 1006 fg a little lower than expectedsmells and tastes fine!

[Monkeybrew]

21l is the plan for my next wherry

That's weird, I've been thinking about brewing another wherry and had decided to brew at 21L.

I also plan a big dry hop of EKG pellets after primary is over

[PaddyX21]

I'd definitely look to brew the Wherry to 20L (or 21 if you want I guess!) the next time I do it, as I would rather not change the flavour profile too much by adding DME.
Would consider hop addition though, as there is a lack of good hop flavour / aroma in the kits I've experienced so far.

EDIT: Oh and Woodfordes 4.5% claim is almost certainly a theoretical maximum based on the calorific value of the exact weight of LME in the kit.
I doubt anyone making the kit has ever achieved the label claim, and I think it's a bit deceptive to give an ABV value on the kits tbh, some don't, and some just give (a clearly stated) approx value.

[monkhouse]

Ok guys.. I'm about to start my wherry bow- quick question tho- if I'm gonna make my kit up to 18 litres then how many litres of boiling water do I add at the start when I pour the cans into fv? On the box it states 6 pints boiling water for 23 litre total...