Caribou Slobber FG?

[mlatner]

So one of the things my wife got me for my birthday last week is a refractometer. I had already brewed my first batch, the caribou Slobber, but as I was bottling today I was curious what the final gravity was. Well I checked twice and made sure the refractometer was zeroed. I got 1.037 both times. Seems really high to me from what I have read, but what do you guys think?

It tasted okay for not having any carbonation. 2 weeks in primary and 2 weeks in secondary. Super clear and brown color.

Now this was after I put a little in a sanitized bottle that had bubbles in it. Could it have picked up some of that too?

 

[Roland_deschain]

Your refractometer will not read correctly when there is alcohol in there without some math. I don't use mine for fg, only to check pre and during the boil gravity.

 

[mlatner]

Oh okay, didn't realize that. I'll have to get a hydrometer at some point then. Thank you!

 

[flars]

You will find this information useful for using the refractometer for future brews.
https://www.brewersfriend.com/refractometer-calculator/
https://www.brewersfriend.com/how-to-determine-your-refractometers-wort-correction-factor/

At least I hope this is helpful. I don't have a refractometer. I only use hydrometers.

 

[RM-MN]

If you really want to know what the final gravity is you have to use a hydrometer. The calculations will get you close if you use a refractometer but not exact. You can use the refractometer if you don't really care about the numbers as a steady reading over a period of time will tell you that the fermentation is done and a calculation will let you know if it really is done or just stuck.

Your refractometer will be will be much more useful when you decide to go to all grain as it will give you a nearly instant reading for your mash to tell when you have the most sugars converted and what your preboil gravity is as you can use only a couple drops and don't have to wait for the wort to cool as you would with a hydrometer.