Checking gravity

[rcgriff88]

I've been seeing alot of first time brewers mentioning checking their OG and I am also a noob brewer and also use the mr beer kit and did not check my OG since I wasn't with the kit and had no clue about it prior to joining this forum and receiving a home brew book.

So my question being does it hurt my brew not having checked it and not being able to check the FG. Plus there being no point in checking the FG even if I were to purchase a hydrometer.

 

[scottedk]

The gravity can be used to tell if fermentation is complete and it can also be used to determine the %ABV. It won't HURT to not measure it you just 1) won't be able to determine the %ABV and 2) won't truly be able to tell when it is done fermenting.

If you get a chance I would definitely recommend getting a hydrometer though.

 

[rcgriff88]

Thanks I was unaware that it also tells you the abv how much do they usually run and when would you check it for the abv since I didn't check the og? It's been a week into fermentation

 

[scottedk]

Here is a good website to determine your ABV based on the OG and the FG.
http://www.brewersfriend.com/abv-calculator/

The %ABV is based on the difference between your OG and your FG (basically tells you how much sugar the yeast have eaten and converted to sugar/CO2). So you probably won't be able to determine the true %ABV of your brew. You could always get the ESTIMATED OG from the kit you used (it is usually included) and use that as your estimated starting point and get your FG at the end to determine what the ABV MIGHT be. It obviously won't be perfect though.

I got a hydrometer in my begginer's brewing kit but they go for around $7.50 at my LHBS.

 

[mjmac85]

In similar boat. Did not take an original reading. I did take one when switching to secondary. It was 1.24 I think. That was sitting for 1 week in the bucket. Sitting in the carboy now. Anything I can do with this or is it kind of useless info now?

 

[Fizzycist]

The most important reason to have one is to make sure your fermentation is done before bottling. Sure you could just wait it out and probably be fine, but if you take hydrometer measurements 3 days apart and it's the same, you know you are fine.