A good general rule to follow is 2-2-2 for MOST ales:
2 weeks in primary
2 weeks in bottles
2 weeks in the fridge before serving.
If you start with those as MINIMUMS, you'll have MUCH higher quality beers than trying to rush it. Most experienced brewers leave average ABV beers in primary 4-6 weeks.
Also, the less you sample/test, the better. Each time you open that fermenter, you are opening your closed, sanitized environment to the outside world of bacteria and oxygen. You really should ONLY test when you intend to rack/bottle anyway to minimize exposure.
If you stick to the 2-6 week primary ferementation, then 99% of the time you are already at FG. I personally take post-boil OG readings, but I haven't taken a FG reading in years. I typically leave most beers in primary for 4 weeks then taste a sample at the same time I am racking to the keg. Unless that sample seems cloyingly sweet, I know I'm at FG.
Patience.....6 days is NOT enough to make a quality porter. Give it AT LEAST 2 weeks, preferably 4-6.
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