Adding Sugar for Higher Potential Alcohol

This blog provides information for educational purposes only. Read our complete summary for more info.

Adding sugar to a solution before fermentation may be done for a variety of reasons. For example, a lot of homebrew recipes call for sugar additions. The Double IPA we brewed a while ago, for example, called for a 12 ounce dextrose addition. Adding highly fermentable sugar, such as dextrose, as opposed to adding more grain, will increase the ABV of the final product without increasing sweetness and malt character.

The chart below shows how many pounds of sugar are required to reach a  particular potential alcohol percentage for a 1, 5, and 10 gallons of finished fermented beer, wine, etc. A couple of notes, this chart assumes that the fermentation will end at 1.000 specific gravity. This is possible, but keep in mind that many beer yeasts finish around 1.010. 

Also, the chart assumes a starting point of zero sugar in the solution. But it is also useful useful if you make an all grain mash or a fruit mash and you want to increase potential ABV to a specific amount. Examples below.

Let's pretend that we make 5 gallon batch of what is supposed to be a Double IPA. The ABV for such a style is somewhere north of 7.5%. Assuming you add enough grains to craft a 6.3% ABV beer, according to the chart, you'll need to add at least 1lb of sugar to hit a potential alcohol of 7.5%, because adding 1lb of sugar will increase the potential alcohol by 1.2% for a 5 gallon batch. 

Added Sugar vs. Potential Alcohol in 1, 5, and 10 Gallon Batches
Pounds of Sugar 1 Gallon 5 Gallons 10 Gallons
1 lb. 5.9% 1.2% 0.6%
2 lbs. 11.9% 2.3% 1.2%
3 lbs. 17.7% 3.6% 1.8%
3.5 lbs. 20.5% 4.1% 2.1%
4 lbs. x 4.8% 2.3%
5 lbs. x 5.9% 3.0%
6 lbs. x 7.1% 3.6%
7 lbs. x 8.3% 4.1%
8 lbs. x 9.5% 4.8%
9 lbs. x 10.7% 5.4%
10 lbs. x 11.9% 5.9%
11 lbs. x 13% 6.6%
12 lbs. x 14.2% 7.1%
13 lbs. x 15.4% 7.7%
14 lbs. x 16.5% 8.3%
15 lbs. x 17.7% 8.9%
16 lbs. x 18.8% 9.5%
17 lbs. x 20% 10.1%
18 lbs. x x 10.7%
19 lbs. x x 11.2%
20 lbs. x x 11.9%
21 lbs. x x 12.4%
22 lbs. x x 13%
23 lbs. x x 13.5%
24 lbs. x x 14.2%
25 lbs.  x x 14.7%
26 lbs. x x 15.4%
27 lbs. x x 15.9%
28 lbs. x x 16.5%
29 lbs. x x 17%
30 lbs. x x 17.7%
31 lbs. x x 18.2%
32 lbs. x x 18.8%
33 lbs. x x 19.5%
34 lbs. x x 20%
Remember, while brewing is legal in almost all US states, distilling alcohol is illegal without a federal fuel alcohol or distilled spirit plant permit as well as relevant state permits. Our distillation equipment is designed for legal uses only and the information in this article is for educational purposes only. Please read our complete legal summary for more information on the legalities of distillation.
Portrait of Kyle Brown

Kyle Brown is the owner of Clawhammer Supply, a small scale distillation and brewing equipment company which he founded in 2009. His passion is teaching people about the many uses of distillation equipment as well as how to make beer at home. When he isn't brewing beer or writing about it, you can find him at his local gym or on the running trail.

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30 Comments

  • KW
    Comment Author: KellyR. Wilson

    thanks .

  • J
    Comment Author: Jay

    Question
    So, my 1st wash, 10lb sugar, 4.5 gallons water, about 10 tsp yeast, 5 tsp nutrient, bubbled great through the airlock, for about 3 hours, then nothing.
    Any ideas?

    Answer
    Your yeast needs more water if you are using 10lbs of sugar. Typically you can use 8 To 10 LBs to 5 gal of water and the yeast will have plenty of hydration. Once the H2O count reduces and is replaced with alcohol the yeast will stop producing and In Turn stop bubbling.
    Water temp that falls below 90deg will also stop fermentation.

  • C
    Comment Author: Cerafus

    So, I have been making DIY co2 setups that I use i to infuse the co2 into a few planted aquariums that I have to help with plant growth. It dawned on me one day that at the same time, I’m also probably creating a very generic form of alcohol. I tased it one day. The smell and taste weren’t so good, slightly bitter, but damn it had a slight heat to it. LIke eating a good piece of rum cake and tasting the rum. So, my last batch I used 32oz of sugar to a half gallon of filtered water, and 7 gm of yeast. It bubbled like crazy within 24 hours, and did a great job for my 40 gal tank, but then when it stopped a few days later I was left with a very sweet, good tasting drink that I added grape flavoring to, but curious. There was a lot of settlement on the bottom, and the reaction was done. Did I ferment to the point that the yeast was killed off and I have a high volume of hooch now or was there not enough yeast nutrients to keep it alive, so it dies off and I should add more to continue to process?

  • C
    Comment Author: CHris

    Mike,

    My guess would be no nitrogen source for the yeast. Try adding DAP to the wash.
    (Diammonium phosphate)
    Chris

  • PK
    Comment Author: Paul King

    Hi i am new to hombrew i see on you tube to start collecting hearts at 82c my new pot still only starts to run between 90-92c on a sugar wash ,it then makes it hard to judge when to start collecting heads stop then hearts ,i have tried on a gas ring and also a electric hot plate. Also on you tube i see people put out fore shot no heads just hearts. Please help.