What would happen if I had the ingredients for 5 gallons of beer but used say a gallon less of water than the recipe asks for what would happen? I assume it would raise the gravity, but how much will it affect the taste and consistency of the beer?
Yes this is a stupid question, but I’m new so pffft.
It would increase the OG by 25%. The beer will just be stronger all around - malt and hops will be more concentrated. As long as the yeast can handle the higher gravity and attenuate to the same level, your ABV will be higher and you may need to age the beer a little longer to take the edge off the alcohol. Fermentation will be more vigorous and produce more heat, so you’ll want to keep an eye on the temp to control off-flavors, too.
