gravity going up?

[thisgoestoeleven]

I'm aiming for 1.022 as a final gravity for my imperial porter. Saturday, I checked it and it was 1.023ish. I figured I would leave it for a few days and check again. Took a reading yesterday, and it was 1.025. I'm baffled right now. Can the rise be attributed to temperature fluctuation? My fermenter is at the will of the ambient heat in my apartment, but it's been holding pretty steady between 68 and 74. I know the hydrometer is calibrated to be accurate for 60*f. Saturday's reading was taken at around 68, and yesterday's was taken at between 72 and 74. I'm really confused here

 

[pompeiisneaks]

You need to ensure you adjust all gravity readings for temperature. I.e. if you got 1.023 at 68 and 1.025 at 74 that, on my calculator adjustment is 1.024 for the first 1.023 at 68, and 1.027 at 74... still a bit odd. that's for 60degF calibration. You could have also mistaken one of the readings slightly, I've never seen gravity go up, and its pretty much not something that should happen... how did you get more 'sugars' in your beer? Two other things to think of, 1. make sure your hydrometer isn't hitting the bottom, i.e. not enough beer in the test tube, and 2. make sure you spin the hydrometer before reading as co2 can stick to the hydrometer and change the reading.

 

[thisgoestoeleven]

I must've misread yesterday. Took a reading today, and it was the same as Saturday's reading. Tossed around 2 oz of bourbon soaked oak chips into my carboy and racked to secondary.

 

[SilentAutumn]

Just to be clear, you got the funky readings, then racked to secondary on the chips, right?