Northern Brewer Dead Ringer IPA OG reading

[bmmathe]

I'm not really this question belongs in this forum but I just brewed Northern Brewer's Dead Ringer IPA and the OG reading I was getting at about 80F was 1.080. From what I've read this is way off from what the OG should be for any beer. What am I doing wrong? I followed the instructions for the boil, used a wort chiller and got my temp down from boiling to 80 in about 10 minutes. I used a wine theif and spun the hydrometer when i dropped it in. I'm guessing this reading is way off but I don't know why.
Any thoghts?

[spiderwrangler]

the OG reading I was getting at about 80F was 1.080. From what I've read this is way off from what the OG should be for any beer.

Not sure what you mean or where you read that, but there are plenty of beers that start out at 1.083 (your reading adjusted for temperature) or higher, up to 1.100 or more. That being said, it is quite a bit higher than the 1.064 that recipe calls for. Was this all grain or extract?

The important question to ask is what your volume was. You are adding a set amount of sugars to your solution, if you have less water it will have a higher OG, and with more water it will have a lower OG.

[cdburg]

I'm guessing you brewed the extract kit. It looks like the OG is supposed to be 1.064.

http://www.northernbrewer.com/documenta ... gerIPA.pdf

Did you add back the full amount of water to get to 5 gallons? Did you stir things up well before taking the sample for the hyrdrometer? Extract and water tend to stratify unless they are mixed well. That can throw off your readings.

[bmmathe]

I brewed the extract kit and aerated before taking the sample (which may be the problem).
The temperature was down around 80 degrees. I don't have an exact temp since my boiling thermometer starts at 100F.
The volume was at 5 gallons when I measured. I guess it could be that I didn't mix the wort in with the water very well but I did shake the fermenter pretty good.

[brewinhard]

I'm guessing you brewed the extract kit. It looks like the OG is supposed to be 1.064.

http://www.northernbrewer.com/documenta ... gerIPA.pdf

Did you add back the full amount of water to get to 5 gallons? Did you stir things up well before taking the sample for the hyrdrometer? Extract and water tend to stratify unless they are mixed well. That can throw off your readings.

+1. If it was an extract kit then definitely your reading could be off by not having a properly mixed sample providing your post boil volume was accurate.

[duckmanco]

I wouldn't worry about, and the ferment will mix that top off water thoroughly. It's pretty hard to fudge the OG on extract kits as long as you top off to the correct amount and get all of the extract out of its container and into the boil.

[cytorunner]

I concur with all of the comments above, Ive brewed this kit and its bullet proof. As long as your volumes are correct the OG should come out spot on.

On a side note are you planning on doing the secondary? If so dont its an unnecessary step. Just ferment for a week add your dry hops and bottle after another. I love NB but I wish they would stop including this step in there instructions.

Enjoy the Dead Ringer it a great beer.

Jim

[Yt-Toe]

I have this NB kit on deck for my next brewing day. I'll be sure to mix, cool and top off. +1 for this question