How do you take gravity readings?

I've read here where people take gravity readings after taking a sample out of the primary.....What do you put the beer in to measure?

I was practicing with my hygrometer before my brew session, and I don't have a glass tall enough to use it with....

When I brewed my first batch, I sanitized the hyrgrometer, and checked the SG in the barrel.......

I am going to check my gravity Fri. or Sat. (it will have been a week Sat.) and am curious how to do it without opening the primary all the way.....(Plastic Fermenter)


Thanks for helping out a noob......

did your hyDrometer come in a tube. If so, that may be used for readings.

What you want to do is extract samples for the fermenter. The easiest to use is the wine thief (available at your HBS). If your using a carboy for secondary, you'll want a thief.

check out the stuff in this link

http://www.austinhomebrew.com/index.php?cPath=178_67

I use a sanitized turkey baster and put the sample in the cylinder that the hydrometer came in. Then, I drink the sample. Make sure you gently spin the hydrometer to release any bubbles under it so it actually floats free in the beer.

YooperBrew said:

I use a sanitized turkey baster and put the sample in the cylinder that the hydrometer came in. Then, I drink the sample. Make sure you gently spin the hydrometer to release any bubbles under it so it actually floats free in the beer.

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I used to do this as well, but the cylinder that my hydrometers came in is rounded on the bottom and they kept falling over on me. I picked up a taller plastic cylinder from AHS with a base to take readings in.

Thanks,

I will find a cylinder a little taller than the one the Hydrometer came in....

i was pretty sure that was how it was done, but hey, ask questions if your not sure, before you screw something up........haha