During a recent brew I broke my hydrometer while trying to simultaneously navigate carpeted stairs and dodge swarming Shi Tzu’s. Unfortunately for me, it was a Sunday night and I couldn’t go to the LHBS to pick up another, so I wasn’t able to take an OG reading. I’m wondering if there is a way to determine what the ABV will be with only an FG reading. Here’s some helpful info:
-Partial Mash, pretty much BIAB with supplemental DME
-Expected OG @ 65% mash efficiency = 1.063
-6 lbs two-row pale
-1/2 lb each of Carapils, Caramel 10L, Honey Malt, Victory
-3 lbs Golden Light DME
-2 L starter of Wyeast 1272 (American Ale II)
-Pitched @ 62F, fermented @ 68F
-FG reading: 1.012 after 7 days in primary
I’m assuming that I’m SoL and just have to hope that I hit 65% with my mash and sparge. Any help would be welcome!
[quote=“Nate42”]A combination of a refractometer and a hydrometer can be used to determine % alcohol from a finished beer, no knowledge of OG required.
That said, if it was me I would assume my typical efficiency and move on with my life. [/quote]
Yeah, the problem is that this is the second time I’ve ever mashed anything. The first time I hit 65%, but it was with a much smaller quantity of grain. Honestly, I’m not too worried, but it would be nice to know for sure.
and it will tell you about what it should have been[/quote]
I fed my info into Beersmith 2, which is why I expected to hit 1.063[/quote]
I would say go with your expected OG. Assuming your brew day was uneventful it was probably pretty dang close. Unless you’re planning on entering it into competition you don’t really NEED to know the real value anyway.
