Boil Off Question

[VulgarCelt]

Ok so I did an AG brew yesterday. While I was chilling the wort I tapped my hydrometer on the counter and broke yet another one.

I missed my sparge temp and had to add extra water to hit it. Which meant I had to boil off a significant amount. I did this without really increasing the boil time but I had a very vigorous boil.

My question is this. I know what my preboil gravity (1052) and volume (8 gal) were. I also know what my post-boil volume (6 gal) was. Is there a way I can extrapolate my FG from that? Or should I just drink this one and called it a botched but yummy experiment?

As a side note this is my third hydrometer. I also broke two thermometers this weekend. Anyone have any suggestions for higher quality glass or instrumentation?

 

[chezhed]

i don't think you can extrapolate your FG...just drink it and enjoy.
As for hydrometer replacement, you could go to a refractometer for pre fermentation measurements and save the hygro for final product.

 

[zachattack]

I think OP meant to say post boil SG (aka OG), not FG. Yes, you can calculate it.

Going from 8 to 6 gallons means you concentrated the batch by 2 gallons or 25%. That means the SG will increase by 25%. So if the measurements you provided are correct, your OG should be 1.065.

Any hydrometer is fragile, higher quality ones will break just the same. In terms of thermometers, a lot of us (myself included) love the splash-proof Thermapen. It's pricey at ~$80 but it's probably the last thermometer you'll buy.

 

[BanginBanjo]

I would recommend investing in a refractometer. They go for around $50-60, but they are fairly durable and extremely easy to use. I personally still keep hydrometers around, but I use only the refractometer 95% of the time.

 

[Yooper]

Keep in mind that you can't "miss" your sparge water temperature. You can sparge with cold water, if you want to.

If you're batch sparging, it's especially unimportant to have a certain temperature for your sparge water.

Many people who do a continous sparge (fly sparge) do have a certain temperature that they would like to bring the grainbed to- but that has to do with denaturing the enzymes and not to have a certain temperature for the sparge water. Even so, many people do not do a mash out and still have great efficiency and great results.

 

[doc5md]

Refractometer. Yes. Get one. My brew day is better with it.
Thermometer. Just bite the bullet and buy the thermapen. After buying several glass ones you'll have paid for it. I love mine.