Can I take hydrometer readings during fermentation?

nickwc5 · Oct 10, 2006

I brewed my first batch on friday, it is now tuesday and the bubbling in the airlock has slowed down. Is it ok to pop the lid off and get a hydrometer reading? Also would it be a good time to rack into the secondary? Thanks.
By the way I used a brewers best IPA kit with an American ale yeast smack pac instead of the supplied yeast.

magno · Oct 10, 2006

Give it at least five, preferably seven days in the primary. Dont worry about taking a reading until you rack it.

Patience is key.

- magno

TheJadedDog · Oct 10, 2006

I typically wait a full 7 days, then pop the top, take a reading, and rack to the secondary. If you're really dying to muck about in it, give it at least 5 days. Just remember, every time you mess with it, you risk contamination so the less time it spends exposed, the better.

nickwc5 · Oct 10, 2006

yea I figured that was the answer. But Im getting anxious :ban:

But i have to just Relax, and have a homebrew (that i got from a buddy

) Thanks Guys

aekdbbop · Oct 10, 2006

any reason not to leave the hydrometer in the fermenter during fermentation??

Pumbaa · Oct 10, 2006

aekdbbop said:
any reason not to leave the hydrometer in the fermenter during fermentation??

It will get all "crudded up" during the kreasun and wont be readable, and if it doesnt reading it will be a huge PITA

aekdbbop · Oct 10, 2006

ha youre right...

Walker · Oct 10, 2006

Back when I started, I used to leave my hydrometer in the fermenter.

I didn't put it in until after the kraeusen had fallen and I left it there to get my 3 days of static readings before racking to the bottling bucket.

-walker

Yuri_Rage · Oct 10, 2006

nickwc5 said:
yea I figured that was the answer. But Im getting anxious
But i have to just Relax, and have a homebrew (that i got from a buddy ) Thanks Guys

Don't forget not to worry

A little patience goes a long way. However, you can take as many hydrometer readings as you please - as long as you're willing to sacrifice some finished beer and risk contamination. I like to take a hydrometer reading just after cooling the wort and again a day or two after bubbling slows to 1 per minute.

Can I take hydrometer readings during fermentation?

Help Support Homebrew Talk - Beer, Wine, Mead, & Cider Brewing Discussion Forum:

nickwc5

Well-Known Member

magno

Sound Level Technician

TheJadedDog

AFK ATM

nickwc5

Well-Known Member

aekdbbop

Well-Known Member

Pumbaa

I prefer 23383

aekdbbop

Well-Known Member

Walker

I use secondaries. :p

Yuri_Rage

Gritty.

Similar threads

Latest posts

Can I take hydrometer readings during fermentation?

Help Support Homebrew Talk - Beer, Wine, Mead, & Cider Brewing Discussion Forum:

Well-Known Member

Sound Level Technician

AFK ATM

Well-Known Member

Well-Known Member

I prefer 23383

Well-Known Member

I use secondaries. :p

Gritty.

Similar threads

Join the conversation!

Join today and get all the highlights of this community direct to your inbox. It's FREE!