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**NordeastBrewer77** · 08-12-2012, 10:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tipharet

So based on the thread, I don't know how to read a hydrometer..lol

I will research that.

How does the beer taste? you'd know if your SG was 1.043 by how sweet it is. It'd be quite sweet at 1.043.... if it's sweet, and actually at ~1.04, there's another issue.

Tipharet · 08-16-2012, 01:48 AM

http://www.imgur.com/S17kd.jpeg

So that's a reading for today. To correct for temp it is 1.014 correct? Which should mean its finished right? Still taste watered down, but I think that's cause I am pulling from the top. If there is less concentration on the top then that means the read is prob incorrect then?

**chumpsteak** · 08-16-2012, 02:02 AM

OK, your hydrometer of 1.014 is correct or close to it which means that if it's been that way for at least 3 days your beer is done fermenting. You tasting it and thinking it tastes watered down is most likely due to the fact that it is very young (green) and is not carbonated. You need to get it in the bottle or on gas for at least 2 weeks before you can tell what the final product is going to taste like. Don't know what your SG was, but with a FG of 1.014 the beer should have a nice full mouthfeel when it is fully carbed and ready to drink.

Tipharet · 08-16-2012, 02:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chumpsteak

OK, your hydrometer of 1.014 is correct or close to it which means that if it's been that way for at least 3 days your beer is done fermenting. You tasting it and thinking it tastes watered down is most likely due to the fact that it is very young (green) and is not carbonated. You need to get it in the bottle or on gas for at least 2 weeks before you can tell what the final product is going to taste like. Don't know what your SG was, but with a FG of 1.014 the beer should have a nice full mouthfeel when it is fully carbed and ready to drink.

Well I topped off with water after pitching so I hope that has something to do with mouth feel. I brewed that on the 5th of this month and will bottle Sunday.

**chumpsteak** · 08-16-2012, 02:41 AM

But you didn't take any gravity readings before pitching or topping off with water? You really need to know your SG in order to know your ABV and how watered down your beer is going to be. Next time top off with water to achieve your 5 gallons and then take a gravity reading with your hydrometer before pitching. Also check the wort temperature and make sure it is below 70 before pitching. If you topped off with the correct amount of water that the recipe called for then chances are your SG was within 5 to 10 % of what it was supposed to be, so your ABV will be close and your body and mouthfeel will be close after carbed up. Get it in the bottle and give it 3 weeks before you pass any more judgement. You'll be amazed how much your beer changes from week to week or even day to day after it's on CO2.

Tipharet · 08-16-2012, 03:16 AM

Will do, previously my brew process was time based. Just now starting to get more technical. The recipe says SG was 1.063. How would I calculate abv?

**chumpsteak** · 08-16-2012, 03:19 AM

That 6.5% ABV. There are a ton of calculators and aps out there that calculate abv based on SG and FG. I just used beersmith.

Tipharet · 08-16-2012, 03:23 AM

Cool not to shabby.