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bryanjints · 07-08-2009, 11:34 PM

I just got done brewing my first batch of beer. It is sitting down in the basement air lock in place waiting to ferment.

I did lots of reading, lots of researching, and talked to several home brewers. I read John Palmers book 2 maybe 3 times and several sections more than that. After all that I came to the conclusion to just follow the recipe exactly how it is written. So thats what I did for the most part.

The only part of my brewing process that I wasn't in the recipe was using a wort chiller. The chiller worked great but I will not waste all the water again. I used some of it to water the lawn but lots of it just went down my driveway. I pay for city water...I am going to be getting a pump.

I also aerated the wort like Palmer suggests by pouring back and forth between brew pot and fermenting bucket. This created lots of foam. I assume the foam is normal.

The only question I have is what is useful for getting a reading with the Hydrometer? Dropping it into the bucket worked but the foam made it very difficult to read.

Big10Seaner · 07-08-2009, 11:37 PM

It sounds like you were well prepared and your process should be good. I usually use a wine thief to take a sample/hydrometer reading and it works well.

**homebeerbrewer** · 07-08-2009, 11:43 PM

If you don't have anything else to use, dropping it in the bucket works, but it is hard to read. I like the thief, it's easy to use, and it's a great way to sample the beer after fermentation. I just drain it into a small glass and taste.

Congrats on your first batch, sounds like it went well.

MIbrew · 07-09-2009, 12:01 AM

Dropping it in the bucket works, and for added help, give the hydrometer a spin. This will sometimes help remove the bubbles in the very near vicinity of the hydro.

I use a turkey baster and a sample cylinder. Bonus of the sample cylinder is you can taste your green beer. Just never pour back into the fermenter!