Help: Hydrometer Reading

Deskjockey894 · 11-19-2010, 10:26 PM

Ok so I a new brewer and haven't been paying much attention to hydrometer readings until I started reading some threads on here. My dilemma:
I brewed a batch (5 gallons) 5 days ago and completely ignored the OG when I sealed the fermenter bucket. I opened today to dry hop and decided to take a reading. It was about 1.060. The recipe I used said the OG should be 1.065, however I tweaked the recipe slightly. I've read that my FG should have dropped 25% from what my OG reading was. I'm very concerned nothing has happened. I had a lot of froth when I added the yeast and moved in from bucket back and forth to aerate. Here's my ingredients.

1 lb crystal 40
9.9 lbs of LME
5 oz hops

Do I just have no understanding on how to read a hydrometer or if what I said is accurate, should I be concerned? Because basically I think it's moved from 1.065 to 1.060. Thanks so much.

**Captain Damage** · 11-19-2010, 10:50 PM

BeerSmith says your OG should be 1.072! How "slightly" did you tweak this recipe? After 5 days of fermentation, 1.065 doesn't sound unusual.

**Revvy** · 11-19-2010, 10:56 PM

Don't forget if your had lag time, which can be as much as three days, your beer has actually only been fermenting conceivabley for 2 days. So yeah if the captain's calculation is right, a 12 point drop in a couple days is nothing to panic about.

Deskjockey894 · 11-19-2010, 11:52 PM

The original recipe called for 9.3 lbs of LME. So I guess it makes sense my actual OG would be a little higher than 1.065. Please tell me if my logic is flawed (which I think it very well maye be), I was just going to go about my merry way after 7 days and automatically transfer to my 2nd fermenter because that's what I have heard (loosely) one should do at that point in time. What kind of FG reading should I be expecting, in a perfect world of course, before I transfer to the secondary? Thanks for your help.

Frodo · 11-20-2010, 12:12 AM

Your FG (when the beer is completely fermented) should most likely go below 1.020, maybe as low as 1.014 or lower just gauging by the 'typical' for LME; it'll depends on the yeast and the qualities of the LME.

Whether you actually transfer to a secondary fermenter is up to you. Many don't use a secondary and instead let the beer ride in the primary for at least 3 weeks, then bottle or keg it (assuming fermentation has been done a while).

**Captain Damage** · 11-20-2010, 12:52 AM

BeerSmith says your FG shoudl be around 1.018.

Deskjockey894 · 11-20-2010, 01:32 AM

What's the math behind that? Was it simply 75% of 0.072

AndyHannas · 11-20-2010, 03:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Deskjockey894

What's the math behind that? Was it simply 75% of 0.072

depends on your yeast strain and your fermentation temperature. 75% is pretty average but i have over attenuated as high as 88%. as long as youre around the 75% mark and your gravity doesnt change for 3 or 4 days you should be alright.

Deskjockey894 · 11-20-2010, 04:23 PM

Thanks guys, appreciate the help, talking me down from the ledge.

Calder · 11-21-2010, 02:04 AM

I think your OG should have been 1.075 with those ingredients.

After 5 days it's only 1.060. Unlike other's who are trying to be nice, I think something is wrong.

What yeast, what temperature?

If the gravity is 1.060 it would indicate you have some activity from the yeast, but it is very sluggish. Either you way underpitched, killed most of the yeast off (added at too high temp, or rehydrated at too high temp), or you are fermenting too cold.

Check the yeast capability (temperature wise). Google it. If that's not the problem, I would suggest re-pitching. NOTE: I have found in basements, wort temperature takes on the temperature of the concrete floor rather than the air temperature, and that can be 5 or more degrees lower.