Coopers Hydrometer

[savagedavid]

I pitched a stout last night and my OG measurement was much lower than expected (1044, should have been 1049). My process was good and I normally hit target so I was quite surprised. Later when I rinsed my Coopers hydrometer out I noticed that with plain water it measured 995 (5 pts lower than normal). If I add the 5 pts to my OG I get 1049 which would have been spot on. Has anyone else had problems like this?

I have had the hydrometer in quite hot wort before (65 degrees) and I am not sure if it might have been damaged in some way.

Do you think I should get a glass hydrometer or invest in a refractometer?

 

[Yooper]

Or, you can just always add .005 to each reading.

I always check my hydrometers in water on brewday- those little slips of paper inside can slip down and make the reading inaccurate. But they are cheap, and it's an easy work-around.

 

[savagedavid]

Or, you can just always add .005 to each reading.

You have a point there, I guess.