It is an extract/grain brew. I scrape the jug as best I can so I guess I
got most of the malt out. I do adjust my hydrometer reading accordingly as
I took the sample then pitched the yeast at 68 degrees.

I noticed that I should have gotten a OG of 1.032 if I only used the Pale
malt and it goes up to 1.043 with the roasted and flaked barley grains that
I added. When adding grains is there a formula, or some method to get the
most sugars out of the grains? I put them all in 1 grain bag and steep in
the water for 30 minutes as the water heats to 170 degrees then remove them.

-Nick


"DragonTail" <mherrenbruck@wi.rr.com> wrote in message
news:LrHId.241198$T02.150088@twister.rdc-kc.rr.com...[color=blue]
> Were these extract/grain kits. I've done about 14 of these and they
> usually are close to the mark. You just have to make sure you get as
> much as possible out of the extract can/bottle/jug. I am usually within
> about .003 of the expected OG. Also, if you are using a hydrometer to
> get your OG make sure you are at about 60 F. At 70 F add .001, at 60 F
> add .002.
>
> Cheers
> Mike
>
> N. Rundle wrote:[color=green]
> > I have so far brewed 3 batches of beer. The first was an Amber Ale with[/color][/color]
an[color=blue][color=green]
> > expected OG of 1.042 and the actual OG was 1.038 (not too bad). My[/color][/color]
second[color=blue][color=green]
> > batch was a stout with an expected OG of 1.066 and the actual OG was[/color][/color]
1.061.[color=blue][color=green]
> > My third batch was a Guinness Clone with an expected OG of 1.043 and an
> > actual OG of 1.032.
> >
> > This last one really disappointed me as I was hoping that my brewing[/color][/color]
skills[color=blue][color=green]
> > have been improving with experience. I was using SUDSW to calculate the
> > expected OG, is there a way I can work it out by hand and compare?
> >
> > During the brewing process, what will affect the OG the most? Could the
> > actual be lower than expected because I'm only doing a 3gal partial[/color][/color]
boil?[color=blue][color=green]
> >
> > -Nick
> >
> >[/color][/color]