From Palmer
http://www.howtobrew.com/section1/chapter8-1-3.html
"High temperatures can also lead to excessive levels of diacetyl. A common mistake that homebrewers make is pitching the yeast when the wort has not been chilled enough, and is still relatively warm. If the wort is, e.g. 90¡F...
Got my refractometer today.
My hydrometer readings the last few days (after fermentation) have stayed about 1.012 but two readings with the refractometer showed 1.020.
I checked it with tap water (not distilled) and the readings was ZERO- should it be this far off?
Learning more each day.
Since this is a lager, maybe the temp should have been much lower say 50-58 degrees for fermentation.
My brew supply guy said lagers were harder and not a good beginner beer for a noob.
Sounds like the fermentation may take longer for a lager.
Ny head hurts from reading all 11 pages!
So, are the $20-70 ATC refractometers ok or not, for measuring the FG or am I better off using the ole hydrometer?
All tis knowledge is difficult to decipher.
Gravity on day 20 was 1.016 or 1.018= still not near 1.009. I may need to wait more than 2 days to make certain fermentation is completed as you or someone else mentioned ( may have been in another thread).
Day 20 today-tastes much, much better today. Gravity down a bit but still not 1.009. I am gonna give it 1-2 more days at least in the keg. After my original post a few days ago, I did give the keg a very very gentle rock (not really a shake) and the bubbling stopped
.
What will it do for me as...
Gravity today is 1.020
It tastes well, sorta like flat beer but it had sort of a little bite of some sort(not hoppy).
*******Correction edit: at 68 degrees ambient temp and calibrated at 60 degrees the correct specific gravity is 1.021********
Mr Beer tech support said OG was approx.1.036 and...
I have a digital thermometer located inside the cabinet with the keg (not on the side but it is beside it) It has been at 68 degrees since day 1.
Dont know if sour or not- I havent tried it.
1st time brewer.
Kit was 1-2 years old, followed Mr Beer directions- did not used a thermometer when I pitched the yeast. I did however, use very, very cold water before adding the wort to the Mr Beer.
I did not see any bubbling at all for 2 weeks. Just prior to 2 weeks, I did see what I...