Low Alcohol Content in my Home Brew

[Hitmanscot]

Hi,

I have been brewing from Home Brew Kits for about a year but I have a consistent problem in that I can never get the alcohol level to reach that stated on the tin. For example, my current batch is Milestone Crusader and after 15 days fermenting it levelled out at 3.9% instead of the 5-5.5% stated on the kit.

I have taken to stirring my mixture 5-6 days into fermentation to free the yeast, but this only seems to have a small effect. I have also tried adding more sugar, but I found that this impacted upon the taste.

Can anyone offer me a suggestion as to how I can rectify this issue?

Many Thanks
Scott

[sparky Paul]

First of all, welcome to the forum!

As for the low ABV, there's no way you will get a 5% beer from a 5 gallon, 3Kg liquid malt extract kit... 4% sounds about right.

Although some of the kits are a little optimistic on ABV, 5-5.5% is way out for a 3Kg, 40 pint kit. Online shops seem to quote the target ABV of Crusader kit as 4.4%, and that may be achievable under absolutely perfect fermentation conditions, and with the extra 0.2% or so added by priming sugars. Even the commercial version of Crusader is only 4.4% on handpump.

If you want a 5-6% amber beer, you could try Cooper's Sparkling Ale kit.

[pongobilly]

What did you brew the crusader to, I'm sure when I did the crusader it wasn't brewed to the regular 40 pints more like 35, I have got the milestone raspberry wheat beer up next and that only brews to 18 litres

[floydmeddler]

Instead of adding extra sugar, add extra malt extract. Will do the trick for you.

[sparky Paul]

What did you brew the crusader to, I'm sure when I did the crusader it wasn't brewed to the regular 40 pints more like 35, I have got the milestone raspberry wheat beer up next and that only brews to 18 litres

According to the website, it's a 40 pint kit.

http://www.milestonebrewery.co.uk/onlin ... ebrew.html

[Jack Hackett]

Assuming your hydro is calibrated correctly to 20°C, did you take into account the temperature during your readings and adjust your readings accordingly? What were your gravity readings and temperature when taken?

[EoinMag]

The Woodfordes kits do not get to the actual ABV on the outside of the boxes, 4% is about right for them.

[Hitmanscot]

Wow, thanks for the responses. If 4% is a more accurate figure than the box, then I feel much better; I was under the assumption that I was doing something wrong.

I brewed the Crusader to the 40 pints specified on the box (I always find its better to brew as per the instructions on a new beer I'm trying) and I adjust my hydro readings according to the table that came with it.

I will look into adding extra malt extract to my new batch to see if that does the trick, but also like the sound of that Coopers Sparkling Ale

Thanks again for the help, I will let you now how I get on.
Scott