Pulling the lid off primary

[arbadarchi]

So I pull the lid off my primary 3 or 4 times during fermentation to take hydrometer readings before bottling or racking off to secondary. Is this too much a risk of oxidization? I'm about to bottle an English mild and noticed significantly less hop flavor and aroma since my last reading. What is the proper way to get a reading without pulling the lid off?

 

[BeerBrewerTrain]

I read on this site that 2-5 times primary-secondary, also you don't want to shack the carboy and oxidize

 

[flars]

You don't need to take that many SG readings. Take your first about day 10 to 14, take a second 3 to 5 days later, or later.
A SG sample can be drawn through the air lock grommet with a siphon tube.

 

[kh54s10]

I usually take only one reading. I let fermentation go for 2 weeks or longer. I only take a second reading if I suspect the first one might indicate that it hasn't fully fermented.

I would suggest that you wait long enough that you are sure fermentation is finished, take reading #1, wait a day and take reading #2. If stable, bottle it.

9 times out of 10 you should only need the 2 readings. AS FEW AS POSSIBLE.

 

[C-Rider]

I'm in NO RUSH as you can see from my pipeline below. So 99% of the time I let if ferment for 4 weeks, then cold crash a week and then when I bring it in to bottle I take a reading so I know the ABV.

And BTW no reason to secondary unless you are doing something like a barley wine or adding fruit.

 

[McGarnigle]

I'm about to bottle an English mild and noticed significantly less hop flavor and aroma since my last reading. What is the proper way to get a reading without pulling the lid off?

I am not sure if these are necessarily signs of oxidation. That's usualyly described as wet cadrboard or (long-term) sherry. And oxidation does take time to manifest itself. Would it become apparent before bottling? I don't know.

 

[arbadarchi]

I am not sure if these are necessarily signs of oxidation. That's usualyly described as wet cadrboard or (long-term) sherry. And oxidation does take time to manifest itself. Would it become apparent before bottling? I don't know.

Interesting. I did have a stout directly before tasting my hydrometer sample, so perhaps my palate was off

 

[unionrdr]

I put a spigot on my pail fermenter to make readings & racking easier. Just pull the cap & center piece off the airlock & go for it. Quick & easy, with no infections as long as the spigots are cleaned & sanitized every time.

 

[dstockwell]

I just leave it in the primary 3 - 4 weeks and only check at bottling.

 

[unionrdr]

It can depend on the yeast as well, besides health, amount pitched, etc. Like S-04. I have to check a beer with that one at 10 days. US-05 or Cooper's Ale yeast can take 3-3 1/2 weeks rehydrated. Depending on temps as well.

 

[IslandLizard]

You can suck/siphon some beer through the grommet hole with a 1/4" OD hose. It disturbs the beer and the fermentor the least.

 

[jddevinn]

Still like this method for going through the airlock.

A small section of ss tubing screwed to the end of a 100 cc syringe straight through the airlock.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004XN9FXS/?tag=skimlinks_replacement-20

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00J26U3R8/?tag=skimlinks_replacement-20