jason43

Recipes 

I have an Irish stout that's been fermenting since 11/19. I never took an og reading. My question is should I take one now or just let it be?

solavirtus

Recipes 

I'd assume it's done or at least nearly done fermenting by now, so the only point to taking a SG reading is to see if/when it's finished fermenting.

HbgBill

Recipes 

Sorry if this is something you know.. but sola suggested taking one to see if/when it's finished. So, yes take one now.. that will be a point of reference.. take another in a week at the same temperature.. compare.. If it's the same.. you are done.. probably.. but, with a stout? I'd leave it and take another a couple of weeks after the 2nd one.. Sure won't hurt to let it sit for 4-6 weeks in the primary... even longer before bottling.. Probably improve it a lot. Easy to get antsy.

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Cheers, HbgBill

Barefoot Brewing

Bottled: American Amber Ale, N.British Brown Ale and an IPA
Kegged: Falconers Flight and Northern British Brown Ale
Next: Irish Oatmeal Stout

solavirtus

Recipes 

I will agree with Bill that a few more weeks in primary wouldn't hurt. There's more threads than anyone needs about primary length if you haven't dove into them yet.

PT Ray

Recipes 

If it's an extract batch you can pretty accurately calculate your original gravity. I might even argue it's kind of pointless to take an actual reading unless you have some unknown variable.

jason43

Recipes 

Just got my hydrometer! Having a tough time figuring it out somewhat due to eyesight. Experimented with water first 90 I think? Any help?

Ogri

Recipes 

There are three scales on your hydrometer. One shows Specific Gravity (Specific Gravity readings are taken before starting and after fermentation has finished. Original Gravity {OG} beforehand, Final Gravity {FG} at the end to determine whether fermentation has been completed, or not, and it's safe to bottle).

Another scale shows the potential Alcohol By Volume (ABV) that would result if the sugars were to attenuate fully and be converted to alcohol with a Final Gravity of 1.000.

The 3rd scale shows the volume/weight of sugar per litre.

You're most interested in the scale for ascertaining Specific Gravity.

That's the one that starts at 0.090 at the top the descends in 5 X 0.002 intervals through 1.000 (then there's no 1 but it carries on down) 010, 020, 030, 040, etc etc.

Here's a couple of links to help.

How to Brew - By John Palmer - Appendix A - Using Hydrometers

Stevenson Reeves - How to use a hydrometer