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When I look into my refractometer I see this: When taking my measurements, why wouldn't I look at my SG side, instead of looking at Brix then converting? My OG was 1.050 (12.4 Brix) and my FG was 1.026 (6.6 Brix) Why does it show both when I should only be looking at Brix? Calculating by the...

Using the Brix calculator, my OG was 12.4, and my final was 6.6. That’s supposed to be 5.1% ABV. I’m very confused.

Yeah, I got that too once I realigned the numbers. Any ideas what went wrong?

Beersmith says that’s 37.3% attenuation. But the ABV is right on target for the recipe. Do I still have something to worry about?

I found the problem!!! I was accidentally using my pre-boil gravity of 1.042 I should have been using my post-boil gravity of 1.05!!! The difference between the 1.05 and the 1.026 measurement means the ABV is 5.1% Stupid oversight, and unfamiliarity with new brewing software is to blame. I’m...

No idea. Didn’t record them. Does it make a difference? Wouldn’t it be the same result?

Refractometer, and plugging the OG and FG into Brewersfriend and my Beersmith mobile app. Both say 2.1% ABV.

Alright, I'm not happy right now. My gravity reading after my boil and cooling (about 70 degrees) was 1.042 I let the primary go for about 11 days at 68 degrees, and bumped it up to 70 for the last 2.5 days. Fermentation appeared completely normal - good krausen, plenty of airlock activity...

They are not. The tubing is just simple 3/8" and the vest is made from nylon coated with urethane. It likely won't be completely O2 free, but infiltration will be very limited in a 24 hour cold crash. It's more than I've done in the past, and I haven't really had any problems with oxidation...

Seeing all the interesting ways people have tried to prevent suck back during cold crash made me think of how I could prevent oxidation. Well, I work for a company that makes airline style life vests. It turns out the 3/8” blowoff tubing I use matches the diameter of the life vest oral tube...

You're the first homebrewer I've met who's drinking less during the pandemic!

I would assume the 20watt mat is fine to wrap around just about anything. From what I've experienced so far, it does not get hot. It's barely warm to the touch, and takes quite a bit of time to raise the temps - even with insulation. I would say it's totally fine to put in direct contact with...

So after the reflectix and the blanket, the temps are holding where I set them. I’ll plan to bump up to 71degrees for a diacetyl rest for the two days before I cold crash.

Yep- I realized it was sitting on a cold tile floor, likely sucking heat from the carboy. So as you suggested, I put a towel under it. Wrapped with reflectix, and put a blanket on top. Temp has already come up about half a degree in the last hour or so.

I’m going to wrap some extra reflectix around it. Thanks!!!

I just got the inkbird 308 and the 20w heating mat through the awesome offer in the sponsor forum. I’ve plugged it all in and have set the temp at 68F. The temp probe in the thermowell is reading 65F, and the 308 indicates the heating mode is on. It’s been about an hour, and the temp hasn’t...

2 layers of reflectix!!

Quick update, if any of you care: The batch ended up being a lot larger than I expected. I started with 9 gallons in the kettle, expecting much more loss from the grain, and the boil off. Turns out I didn’t lose nearly as much as I thought I would to boiling in 27 degree ambient temps. I think...

Well, part of the reason I wanted to do a full PBW clean was because the pot is already pitted. It's an old heavy duty 15 or more aluminum kettle that my father used to long cook just about anything that would fit in it. I'm nervous about stuff hiding even after a good scrub. So back to my...

After my first brew in the new aluminum kettle, I did a full clean with PBW. Brought it to 160 degrees and let it circulate for a full hour. it seems to have knocked off my oxidation layer, because the pot looks a lot more shiny than when I started the batch. Should I re-passivate with boiling...