Kits discrepency

[The Cardinal]

I bought a Woodford Nog 2 can kit, and the instructions on the box and inside said it would be 4.5% abv once finished. It also goes on about how finely balanced the kit is and therefore how you don't need to worry too much about taking an initial SG.

Thing is, the instructions say that the beer is ready for racking into bottles/barrels once the gravity is 'at or below 14 and hasn't moved for 2 consecutive reading' (or something like that).

Well - I DID take an intital gravity reading, and it was around 35. The kit has now had a gravity of about 13 for the past couple of days, so according to the instructions it's now ready for racking.

But......by my calculations (SG minus FG divided by 7.5) the kit will be barley 3% abv!

Am I correct? Is this brew really more suitable for a bunch of school children, or is there something I'm missing?

[sparky Paul]

Well - I DID take an intital gravity reading, and it was around 35.

That doesn't sound right, I would have expected around 1040-45. Are you certain the extract was fully dissolved when you made the kit up? Were the cans full, bar for a small headspace?

[sparky Paul]

Commercially produced Nog is supposedly 4.6%, surely they can't be that far out with the volumes?

[sparky Paul]

Commercially produced Nog is supposedly 4.6%, surely they can't be that far out with the volumes?

I got the impression from what Cardinal was saying that there isn't a target OG given

I don't think they do on the Woodeforde's kits. What I was getting at is that 1035 is a long way away from what you would have expected - if it's the volume of the kit or the wort that's wrong, something's got to be a mile out.

[The Cardinal]

So from what you're saying, it sounds like one of the following might be to blame:-

1. the mix was a bit warm when I took the first reading and so it might have been out.

2. I might have put too much water in? (is that right?)

The cans were full. I poured 'em in the fermenter, and I'm sure I added the correct amount of water. Then I gave it a real good stir until it was all dissolved, then added the yeast and did the same again. I think I might use another hydrometer to get a second opinion. The room temperature has been consistently between 19 - 24 degreesc C (got a thermometer in there)

[The Cardinal]

I barreled it today and I think I've worked out what the problem was. The markings on my fermenter are completely wrong (now corrected with the help of a permanent marker!).

I actually topped the fermenter up to 25 litres rather than 23 as was specified.

Will the extra 2 litres of water have made a significant difference? Was supposed to be 4.5% (final gravity ended up being about 10.5).

[Russ]

Hi Cardinal

Just a thought. I think the Nog is a 36 pint kit not a 40 so you should have topped up to 20.5 not 23 litres...... and you topped up to 25. That would explain the low SG......

Not sure what your saying your FG is - 1005 (which sounds low for a two can all malt kit IMO) However you said on your first post that the OG was 1035 so If you are down to 1005 that makes about 4% a.b.v....

Does this sound right.

[sparky Paul]

I think the Nog is a 36 pint kit not a 40 so you should have topped up to 20.5 not 23 litres...... and you topped up to 25. That would explain the low SG......

I thought that too, but when I checked the website it said it was a 40 pint kit.

[The Cardinal]

it's definately a 40 pinter.

the fg was about 10.5

[oxford brewer]

I thought it was a 36 pint kit also but it may of had the strength changed as Woodfordes now sell the Admirals Reserve as a 36 pint kit.

http://www.the-home-brew-shop.co.uk/item1853.htm still advertise it as a 36 pinter

[Andy]

Content deleted in accordance with forum rules.

Can clearly see the "40 pints" wording on this pic.

[sparky Paul]

I thought it was a 36 pint kit also but it may of had the strength changed as Woodfordes now sell the Admirals Reserve as a 36 pint kit.

http://www.the-home-brew-shop.co.uk/item1853.htm still advertise it as a 36 pinter

The picture's a bit fuzzy, but it certainly says '36 pints' on the box too. The newer box clearly says '40 pints'.

[confused]

I've often found that Woodforde's kits (in fact most Munton's) come in light on SG, I now only ever make them up to 20 litres - more than enough to fill my corny anyway. I usually get 1046 - 1048 SG and about 1012 - 1014 FG, so 4.5 - 4.8% ABV.

It's worth remembering they are two can all malt kits at 3kg, not 3.6kg as some are. Does this mean the contents are extra concentrated? Nog has changed recently from 36 to 40 pints, I've almost convinced myself that they've had some boxes printed wrongly.

If you do find problems with the kits complain directly to Woodfordes at the Brewery in Woodbastwick, Norfolk. I have an "association" with them of kinds and do happen to know that they take muntons to task if they get bad coments about their homebrew kits.

On the point of fermenter markings if you produce kits regularly then it is worth measuring carefully to 36 pints and making your own mark, then up to 40 and mark again. And remember to fill tot his mark, dont add 36 (or 40) pints to the kit.

The fermentor markings could account for a small difference, as could temperature but on this one we are out by about a third. If the volme should be 36 pints and it has been filled to 25 litres it would still only account for about half this "gap"

[The Cardinal]

Interesting replies, thanks. I've emailed Woodefords asking if there has been some kind of mistake with the printing on the boxes. I tasted it when I barreled, and it was ok, but pretty weak and bland. I think I'm just gonna have to put this one down to experience. I guess if I just drink twice as much as normal in each sitting, I'll still get the same amount of alcohol into my body!!!

I reckon that's it for the summer now, though, so it's a shame to end the season on such a dissapointing note. I'll be looking forward to the Autumn when all my bottles and barrels will be empty and waiting for a refill, then I'll buy a 40 pinter and cut it down to 36.

[Sam Smith]

I've brewed many Woodforde's kits, they are one of my favourite manufacturers. One thing I have noticed is that very often I end up with a Final Gravity somewhat higher than that quoted. Sometimes it will reduce slightly if left for a couple of days but I still find it a little bit worrying, perhaps Woodforde's yeast is a little too "variable" in its efficiency. When calculating a beers strength do not forget to consider the effect of any priming sugar, 10g per litre of beer will add around 0.61% ABV. It is sometimes best to "ignore" the actual gravities but work on the "gravity drop" as this is much more realistic if you have an inaccurate hydrometer (easy to check but difficult to correct).