Gravity issue.

[Wigster]

Hi folks just looking some advice on a gravity issue please.
I took a reading 2 days in a row but did’nt have time to bottle and now the reading is much higher than before and I’m not sure why.
Im making an English ipa and taking my reading with a hydrometer, my first two reading we’re stable at 1018 and today I’ve taken a reading and it’s at 1030.
Any ideas why this is the case and what i can do to amend it. The 1018 reading was about perfect and the 1030 reading is no big deal either but I’m just wondering why it’s jumped so much.
Thanks

 

[tripeland]

Hi folks just looking some advice on a gravity issue please.
I took a reading 2 days in a row but did’nt have time to bottle and now the reading is much higher than before and I’m not sure why.
Im making an English ipa and taking my reading with a hydrometer, my first two reading we’re stable at 1018 and today I’ve taken a reading and it’s at 1030.
Any ideas why this is the case and what i can do to amend it. The 1018 reading was about perfect and the 1030 reading is no big deal either but I’m just wondering why it’s jumped so much.
Thanks

Are you sure you had enough liquid to float the hydrometer?

 

[Wigster]

Yeah I’m pretty sure i did, i done exactly the same that I’ve done with previous brews.

 

[VikeMan]

I took a reading 2 days in a row but did’nt have time to bottle and now the reading is much higher than before and I’m not sure why.

The good news is that it's not possible.

Im making an English ipa and taking my reading with a hydrometer, my first two reading we’re stable at 1018 and today I’ve taken a reading and it’s at 1030.

You didn't by any chance take the last reading with a refractometer, did you? If so, be sure to correct the reading with a refractometer calculator. If you used a hydrometer for that last reading, there must have been some sort of measurement error.

 

[Wigster]

No the reading was taken with a hydrometer both times, think I’m gonna give it’s another go here, fingers crossed

 

[Wigster]

No the reading was taken with a hydrometer both times, think I’m gonna give it’s another go here, fingers crossed

Nope same again, could it be a temperature issue? It was like 25 degrees Last week and this week it’s like 16 degrees. Maybe a faulty hydrometer?

 

[VikeMan]

Nope same again, could it be a temperature issue? It was like 25 degrees Last week and this week it’s like 16 degrees.

That would account of a couple points either way, but not for what you're seeing.

Maybe a faulty hydrometer?

Maybe, if the little paper slip the scale is printed on somehow moved. Check it with plain water at whatever temperature it's built for, (it should say somewhere on the scale). It should read 1.000.

 

[GilSwillBasementBrews]

Did you test a flat (non carbonated) sample?

if you don’t degas your sample the co2 could add to the read final gravity.

 

[Wigster]

Did you test a flat (non carbonated) sample?

if you don’t degas your sample the co2 could add to the read final gravity.

Yeah

 

[VikeMan]

Did you test a flat (non carbonated) sample?

if you don’t degas your sample the co2 could add to the read final gravity.

It could. But not 12 points.

 

[Wigster]

I’ve never deGassed any samples before, i don’t even know how.

 

[GilSwillBasementBrews]

I can’t think of any other reason why the gravity would increase if nothing was added.

 

[Wigster]

I can’t think of any other reason why the gravity would increase if nothing was added.

Me either, the bloody thing just kept rising, maybe the hydrometer is faulty. Do you think it would be safe to bottle? Fermentation has definitely finished and it smells pretty good.

 

[GilSwillBasementBrews]

Usually I’d say if you got the same reading a couple days apart you’d be fine to bottle. But if your gravity is indeed increasing without adding anything, there is something odd happening. I’d be hesitant to say “yeah go for it. “

 

[Wigster]

Ok thanks, I’ll leave it another day and check the FG tomorrow and if it’s close to my first couple of readings I’ll bite the bullet and bottle it. I’ll let you know how it goes, thanks for the help.

 

[Jim R]

That seems like a lot of wasted beer with all those gravity readings. One option is to just let it ferment for the recommended fermenting and maturing time and then bottle your beer (with one reading mostly to calculate ABV).

 

[Wigster]

That seems like a lot of wasted beer with all those gravity readings. One option is to just let it ferment for the recommended fermenting and maturing time and then bottle your beer (with one reading mostly to calculate ABV).

I think I’ve taken about 6 so some waste but not loads. Maybe one tomorrow and if all seems ok I’ll bottle it and hope for the best.

 

[madhook]

That would account of a couple points either way, but not for what you're seeing.



Maybe, if the little paper slip the scale is printed on somehow moved. Check it with plain water at whatever temperature it's built for, (it should say somewhere on the scale). It should read 1.000.

I agree with Vikeman here. I've had a hydrometer slip the paper. Double check that it is accurate.

 

[Brewbuzzard]

I’ve never deGassed any samples before, i don’t even know how.

Stir it like it owes you money

 

[Wigster]

Just to let those who gave me advice know, i bit the bullet today and bottled. Took another reading and it’s was 1020, close enough to what it was meant to be at 1018. Fingers crossed there’s no exploding bottles. Also had a small sample and it tasted pretty good.

 

[VikeMan]

Took another reading and it’s was 1020, close enough to what it was meant to be at 1018.

18 to 30 to 20. I don't mean this as an insult, but how much experience do you have with hydrometers? There are bunches of youtube tutorials on them.

 

[Wigster]

I get where your coming from to be honest, I’d say this is my 6th brew and they’ve all been decent and the hydrometer has always done what it’s meant to do. I can’t explain what happened this time, i wish I could.

 

[Brewbuzzard]

When I bottle I place the bottles in a container and in a spare bathtub for safety.

 

[Wigster]

Hi guys, just thought I’d follow up on this in case any of you wondered how the beer turned out. I had my first sample last night and it’s very good indeed, a nice healthy strong ale. Thanks for all the info and help throughout.

 

[Brewbuzzard]

Hi guys, just thought I’d follow up on this in case any of you wondered how the beer turned out. I had my first sample last night and it’s very good indeed, a nice healthy strong ale. Thanks for all the info and help throughout.

Glad it turned out fine. I've had some odd things happen over the years and some turned out and some didn't. It helps if you can figure out why.