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Alright already, I got a hydrometer

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applescrap

Be the ball!
Joined
Oct 23, 2015
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Denver
Haha, never thought I would. But there it was and I wanted to make sure my kbs clone was done. Problem is I have no idea what to do with it or how to calculate anything. Guess Im glad to have some data. With the kbs, I wiggled the bucket at about ten days and again a few days later and was surprised at what I found. Of course in true applescrap fashion I floated it in the bucket. I think this says 1.01something. Chocolate floating on top as always with this beer. Also got new bag to help elminate poor filtering from cheap bag. Already feel kind of obligated to use it now that I have it. Nice knowing this beer attenuated so well. Other than this not entirely sure when or where to use it. Overall, glad to have a new brew toy.
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I use a refractometer for OG, but for any racking or bottling I take an Hydrometer reading. I use an hydrometer jar that takes about 6 ozs of beer. I find that in addition to the gravity reading,, I get a lot of information about the beer from drinking the hydrometer sample.

Occasionally I will take a sample from the fermenter. I use a Turkey baster to get the sample, and of course drink the sample.
 
Take the OG reading . Then I usually check on the 19 & 21st day for FG . If reading is same for those last few days it's done. Not sure if your asking how to read and apply it . If so this is how it works .
You take your OG , let's say it reads 1.050
Then your FG reads 1.010 .
OG - FG x 131.25 = 5.25 abv . Hope I explained it well if that's what you wanted .
 
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Must not have kids running around the brewing area like I do. Haha. Like a wake is to a boat, breakage of important things is to daughter....

reminds of a broad i was dating a long time ago...her little boy got pissed at me and purposefully took my hydrometer and stomped on it!
 
And you're not in Jail? Not that a hydrometer is a huge loss but sounds like that kid needed needed some "guidance". Glad to hear she's an ex.

+1 never could understand why my drug counselor, fresh back from a south american vacation. would want me to date a heroin addict but she did!
 
Take the OG reading . Then I usually check on the 19 & 21st day for FG . If reading is same for those last few days it's done. Not sure if your asking how to read and apply it . If so this is how it works .
You take your OG , let's say it reads 1.050
Then your FG reads 1.010 .
OG - FG x 131.25 = 5.25 abv . Hope I explained it well if that's what you wanted .

Thanks! Appreciate the info, yes, both. Your birthday is the same as my daughter and same year as me. With the great formula as well, thanks.
 
wait a second 5.5k posts and you 'just now' got a hydrometer? lol, wait till you break it, and need a new one! someone in another thread said to buy two so they don't get lonely!
Haha, thus the thread and here we are. Had a few arguments over this ;) definitely insulted a couple times. That was one of my first thoughts, its not if its when I am going to break this.
 
After following some of your threads @applescrap, I thought I would never see the day.
I know, right. I feel dirty, like I need a shower or something, but now my inner beer dork wants to know. How much sugar did I squeeze out of you grains, wait this is getting weird. At least Im just plopping this in, no way I am pullling a sample. Am I going to have to live this down in 5k more posts? Well thanks for not losing to much faith in me.
 
Thanks! Appreciate the info, yes, both. Your birthday is the same as my daughter and same year as me. With the great formula as well, thanks.

Lol that's cool. And to make it more interesting I'm a huge Denver Bronco fan and I see your in Denver . :)
 
Must not have kids running around the brewing area like I do. Haha. Like a wake is to a boat, breakage of important things is to daughter....

Small kids and somewhat careless, but curious adults can be alike. I try to pigeonhole my stuff and keep it hidden from view if it's not in use. There's an amateur Bobby Flay-type in my house who likes to use things but can't seem to put them back ... steel measuring spoons, LCD thermopen, you name it.
He uses the Amazon Prime account to buy stuff for me, so sometimes it balances out. Wait until your Mini-me figures out how to use the card to buy stuff, then you'll be in another pickle.
 
Small kids and somewhat careless, but curious adults can be alike. I try to pigeonhole my stuff and keep it hidden from view if it's not in use. There's an amateur Bobby Flay-type in my house who likes to use things but can't seem to put them back ... steel measuring spoons, LCD thermopen, you name it.
He uses the Amazon Prime account to buy stuff for me, so sometimes it balances out. Wait until your Mini-me figures out how to use the card to buy stuff, then you'll be in another pickle.
True that.
 
Now you should get into SG readings during brew day. Haha. I like to take first runnings readings then another after sparging then another for the OG. I use a refractometer to do these readings then I switch to a hydrometer for the FG reading. I find if you know the SG at those key points on brew day you can easily brew the same beer the same way over and over again.
 
I realize that what I did, in foolishness no doubt, was bad in two ways. First, it connected me with people that I am not so sure that I want to be connected with. And second

I mistook not NEEDING a hydrometer with wanting one for other reasons. Surely, I don't need a hydrometer to brew. Yet, I am glad to have one. Like for abv. I think it does that obviously. But now I am curious about the gravity of the apple juice I am buying for cider. I am curious about partigirls, brut ipas, and different mash temps on abv for starters. Its nice to have some data, curious how much sugar exactly, am I out of the grain, squeezing.
 
I realize that what I did, in foolishness no doubt, was bad in two ways. First, it connected me with people that I am not so sure that I want to be connected with. And second

I mistook not NEEDING a hydrometer with wanting one for other reasons. Surely, I don't need a hydrometer to brew. Yet, I am glad to have one. Like for abv. I think it does that obviously. But now I am curious about the gravity of the apple juice I am buying for cider. I am curious about partigirls, brut ipas, and different mash temps on abv for starters. Its nice to have some data, curious how much sugar exactly, am I out of the grain, squeezing.
Hahaha!
 
You’ll break one because you said that

Already tried in the how many hydrometers have you broken this year thread.

Want to get a new one that only has a SG scale, because these are always showing me what i don't care about. either plato, or potential alcohol, never SG!
 
I know completly off topic but i have been wondering how i should be reading your user name. Should it be "apple scrap" or "apples crap" or something different.

I realize that what I did, in foolishness no doubt, was bad in two ways. First, it connected me with people that I am not so sure that I want to be connected with. And second

I mistook not NEEDING a hydrometer with wanting one for other reasons. Surely, I don't need a hydrometer to brew. Yet, I am glad to have one. Like for abv. I think it does that obviously. But now I am curious about the gravity of the apple juice I am buying for cider. I am curious about partigirls, brut ipas, and different mash temps on abv for starters. Its nice to have some data, curious how much sugar exactly, am I out of the grain, squeezing.
 

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