Chillaxian

Recipes 

So I am on my first brew (an english brown ale) and it is currently on its 13th day in the secondary fermentor (glass carboy). The directions that came with the kit say to let the beer sit in the secondary fermentor for 14 days, however after reading the forum some I've come to the conclusion this should be based on a consistent final gravity over 2 or 3 days? I'd like to use this method but I'm unsure how to go about it, I was told you want as little oxygen in the secondary fermentor as possible... so opening it up seems counter productive. Any tips?

ScrewedBrew

Recipes 

No harm in opening it up for a quick sample. Use a sanitized turkey baster. It should be done by now, but no harm waiting longer.

Chillaxian

Recipes 

Awesome, but now I have another question the hydrometer I have is pretty big.. say 12 inches... so the sample I'd need to take is rather substantial. Are there any other ways of testing my FG without the hydrometer, or even smaller hydrometers available so I don't have as much "waste" (don't worry I don't plan on tossing it)

EDIT: I don't have any real tall and narrow cylinders to do the test in :/ so I'm not sure I'll be able to do this at all... until it is in my bottling bucket of course

ScrewedBrew

Recipes 

Takes 3-4 ounces to fill the tube for a sample. I just drink it... it doesn't go to waste.

FastAndy

Recipes 

+1 I use the tube the hydrometer came in and always drink the samples for quality control.

bad67z

Recipes 

It sounds like you don't have one of these.



You should be able to pick one up at your LHBS for less than $5.

F250

Recipes 

Yep, they're cheap.

Also, I wouldn't bother taking a reading until after 3 weeks had passed.

Rick

__________________
Primary - Big Pale Citra Ale (AG)(1.063)
Secondary - Bitter (AG)
Bottled - Best Bitter, Bitter, SNPA clone
On deck - Tank #7 clone.

Chillaxian

Recipes 

Bad67z you are right I don't have one of those so gonna be picking one up tomorrow.

F250 why do you recommend 3 weeks? Its my understanding once you have a consistent fg you should go ahead and bottle?

sok454

Recipes 

The extra time allows the yeasties to clean up and can. Help clear up the beer a bit. I've done 4 batches and have yet to secondary. No real need to unless adding hops or fruit etc.

flars

Recipes 

An alternative to taking a sample with a turkey baster is a wine thief. The wine thief will reach the bottom of 5, 6, and 7.5 gallon carboys. I still don't know why they are not sold as a wine/beer thief.