Question about OG

[Morkebla]

I have done 2 brews so far. The first was the standard Coopers 'Lager', which I knocked up with 500g light spraymalt and 500g BKE2. When I took the OG it was 1052! I thought it was quite high, but I went on, and it finished at 1011. My second brew which is just finished in the FV is a Coopers Dark Ale, which I made with 1kg dark spraymalt and 200g demerera sugar. The OG on this guy was 1057! It seems stable at 1010 now. So my question is why am i getting such high OG's? I read other posters with 1.5kg of fermentables and only getting 1040 etc. Why are my brews going so high. Now most of you may say that the higher the better etc, but I actually want it to be around 4.5%, and not 6.5%!

Any advice is welcome

Edit: Brew lengths were 22.5L for the first, and 24L for the Dark Ale. Readings were taken at 23-26C.

[simco999]

You don't mention what your brew length is. 23 litres is about the usual - if you are using less water this will increase the OG. Also what temperature are you taking the readings at? If you are using Coopers kits (1KG of fermentables?) and adding another 1.2KG of fermentables the OG's sound about right.

I'm sure the kits guys will help.