Let me ask you a stupid question because you just set off a red flag for me. Does the beer taste sweet or does it taste normal?
I had this exact same problem recently, and it "started" when I bought a refractometer. I was beating my head against the wall trying to figure out what was going on and I finally got it sorted. It turns out that refractometers do not read accurately in the presence of alcohol. My beer was fine all along, and it was just the tool that is flawed.
The beer tastes sweet...to sweet to drink,actually.I am unaware of the formula that is needed when taking FG readings with a refrac.How do I do this?I have tried starters of various sizes in hopes that was the problem.Anywhere from a pint to over a liter.
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Lady Astor-"If you were my husband,I would poison your drink"
Winston Churchill-"If you were my wife,I'd drink it"
Okay, this is a fair point, but the tool isn't flawed. You just have to be aware of the issue. If you want to use a refractometer for post fermentation gravity readings you have to use a formula to adjust the reading to account for the alcohol in the sample. I take final gravity samples all the time with a refractometer.
Beersmith has a conversion tool for this. Actually Beersmith has quite a few conversion tools that are great. I prefer to use the refractometer rather than hydrometer because you only need a few drops rather than a cup.
The beer tastes sweet...to sweet to drink,actually.I am unaware of the formula that is needed when taking FG readings with a refrac.How do I do this?I have tried starters of various sizes in hopes that was the problem.Anywhere from a pint to over a liter.
If you mashed too high then you'd have a lot of unfermentable sugars left in the beer and those are not that sweet. You'd have too much body/mouthfeel but it wouldn't really be too sweet.
If the yeast didn't 'finish the job' then you'd have a lot of fermentable sugars left in the beer and those are sweet. So if the beer tastes really sweet thern it's prob the yeast not finishing the job.
Since you said you make starters and aerate well and have been doing this for so long then it seems those aren't the problem. But something must have changed. What could possibly have changed?
What water do you use? Is it possible your tap water switched to chloramine instead of just chlorine?
__________________ Early brewers were primarily women, mostly because it was deemed a woman's job. Mesopotamian men, of some 3,800 years ago, were obviously complete assclowns and had yet to realize the pleasure of brewing beer.- Beer Advocate
I am unaware of the formula that is needed when taking FG readings with a refrac.
So you've been using a refractometer for eight years and your beer has been fermenting down near 1.010? If so, then you do definitely have a problem with your process/fermentation. However, as others have pointed out, a refractometer cannot be direct read once there is alcohol in the mix. I know there are conversion formulas and a tool in Beersmith, but I have never had good success with it when I have compared actual hydrometer readings. I say you should at least take a hydrometer reading and be sure. The mind is a powerful thing, and your beer may be tasting sweet just because you think it is...
I had this exact same problem recently, and it "started" when I bought a refractometer. I was beating my head against the wall trying to figure out what was going on and I finally got it sorted. It turns out that refractometers do not read accurately in the presence of alcohol. My beer was fine all along, and it was just the tool that is flawed.
If you know the OG you can accurately derive the fermenting or final gravity using a refractometer. Plenty of calculators around the webtubez to do it, too.
blkandrust: Have you checked FG with a hydrometer?
Quote:
Originally Posted by DNW
I know there are conversion formulas and a tool in Beersmith, but I have never had good success with it when I have compared actual hydrometer readings.
So you've been using a refractometer for eight years and your beer has been fermenting down near 1.010? If so, then you do definitely have a problem with your process/fermentation. However, as others have pointed out, a refractometer cannot be direct read once there is alcohol in the mix. I know there are conversion formulas and a tool in Beersmith, but I have never had good success with it when I have compared actual hydrometer readings. I say you should at least take a hydrometer reading and be sure. The mind is a powerful thing, and your beer may be tasting sweet just because you think it is...
I have only been using a refrac for a few months..I was unaware that refracs cannot be direct read once alchohol is involved..
__________________
Lady Astor-"If you were my husband,I would poison your drink"
Winston Churchill-"If you were my wife,I'd drink it"
I'm brewing with well water.The same that ive been using from the beginning.I have not taken a hydro reading as ive been using my refrac.It has been brought to my attention that a refrac will not be accurate once there is alchohol involved.I am going to take a hydro reading and try the conversion formula for the refrac.Thanks a ton fella's for your replies.This site rules
__________________
Lady Astor-"If you were my husband,I would poison your drink"
Winston Churchill-"If you were my wife,I'd drink it"
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