Collecting Sample to Test Fermentation Completion?

[Jiffster]

What do you use to take a sample out of your carboy to test gravity to see if fermentation is done, a wine thief?

 

[SmokeyMcBong]

Yup, wine thief. Some people use a turkey baster...

 

[ba-brewer]

I use a 10mL glass pipettes, I suppose it is wine thief of some sort as I found it in the wine making area. Gets well below the surface crap if I hold my finger over the top. I use a refractometer for checking fermentation so I dont need more than a couple mL, a few drop for the refractometer and the rest for me.

 

[menerdari]

wine thief if I use my hydrometer and pipette when I use my refractometer (I rarely use my hydrometer any more)

 

[Subdivisions]

Wine thief. A hydrometer is the most accurate when alcohol is present. A refractometer is fine for doing pre-boil measurements and OG measurements.

 

[C-Rider]

I usually wait 4 weeks to let fermentation finish and I just check at bottling time using a turkey baster and a test tube. 99% or the time it's done after 4 weeks. I'm in no rush.

 

[Natdavis777]

I go by visual confirmation. After a week or so, once the krausen has dropped, I know fermentation is done. If I do check, Ill use a racking cane and pull a sample with that. I rarely do though.

 

[ba-brewer]

Wine thief. A hydrometer is the most accurate when alcohol is present. A refractometer is fine for doing pre-boil measurements and OG measurements.

You do need to use software to get the true gravity when alcohol is present with a refractometer but the results are consistent. If you are just looking for when the gravity is stable it works fine for that and you dont need to do the calculations. I take gravity reading with a refractometer to determine when it is stable then use a hydrometer to verify the result before kegging or bottling, the calculated value is usually within a single point of the hydrometer.

 

[JLeuck64]

I usually wait 4 weeks to let fermentation finish and I just check at bottling time using a turkey baster and a test tube. 99% or the time it's done after 4 weeks. I'm in no rush.

I second this, I usually wait 3 weeks for say a 1.050 gravity beer to finish and most times they are done by then. Stick the wine thief in and grab a sample to check... then drink it (;

Higher gravity beers, say 1.060 to 1.070 I let go a month before checking.

When it gets North of 1.080 I leave them be for at least 2 months, sometimes longer.

 

[Jiffster]

I'm prepared to leave it as long as needed. However, I am hoping that I will be able to use the recipe timing (I know that's a bad phrase) as its a recipe John Palmer's. "How to Brew".

In it, he said ferment for 10 days. I figured that since I used a starter and a regulated fermentation chamber and had a fast starting, aggressive krausen that I would be safe using that timing. I figured his 10 day timing probably accounted for fermentation completed in i.e. 5-7 days with 3 or so days to stabilize.

There's no more activity in the blow-off tube container.

Today (Sunday, 10/25) marks 8 days and my plan was to check the SG today and again in 2 days. If the SG is stable on the 2nd reading it's ready, correct?

Then I was going to start my cold crash followed by gelatin and bottle.

 

[JONNYROTTEN]

Your checking FG not SG. Im trying to get my beer time down.The ten day Grain to glass thing for a 1.050 type beer.I brewed Monday and checked yesterday(5 days) Kausen had dropped and I reached FG so I dryhopped. Us05 at 65 deg. Even if there is slight fermentation it will finish up during a 3 day dryhop.I use a sterilized turkey baster,bucket no carboy

 

[JustLooking]

Your checking FG not SG.

SG is specific gravity and can be use when describing OG (original gravity) or FG (final gravity) or any reading in-between.

 

[JONNYROTTEN]

SG is specific gravity and can be use when describing OG (original gravity) or FG (final gravity) or any reading in-between.

Ive people list it as Starting Gravity.Thats what I had on my mind when
I saw it.

 

[menerdari]

You do need to use software to get the true gravity when alcohol is present with a refractometer but the results are consistent. If you are just looking for when the gravity is stable it works fine for that and you dont need to do the calculations. I take gravity reading with a refractometer to determine when it is stable then use a hydrometer to verify the result before kegging or bottling, the calculated value is usually within a single point of the hydrometer.

Exactly, I use this one http://onebeer.net/refractometer.shtml I some times double check with the hydrometer and have found that OG is always spot on and FG is always within 3 points with the hydrometer usually reading about 3 points higher.
None the less it is plenty accurate for my needs and it only uses a few drops for a sample.

 

[Jiffster]

How do you obtain a few drops sample when using a refractometer?

 

[ba-brewer]

Pick a tool, like a pipette, turkey baster, bottling wand, a length of tubing. Hold your finger over one end, poke the other end into the fermentor so the end is below the krausen layer. Remove your finger for a few seconds then put your finger back on the end and remove the tool. I suppose it is a vacuum that holds the sample in the tool.

 

[menerdari]

How do you obtain a few drops sample when using a refractometer?

I use the pipette that came with the refractometer, but as was mentioned there are all kinds of ways to collect a small sample. The pipette collects only a small amount but it is enough for testing and a little taste test.Nothing gets returned to the fermenter like a 3 oz'ish hydrometer sample.