Help Me Read This Hydrometer?

[newandbuzzingbee]

Hi all! My kit was missing an instruction pamphlet and the things I’ve read and videos I’ve watched have had massively different results from me. I didn’t take a starting gravity (first batch mistake), so I’m just now taking one post-attempting-to-stabilize. I posted about it in r/mead here. So: can anyone help me read this? The mead’s on its secondary and I’d added stabilizers.

 

[newandbuzzingbee]

I think that the main thing throwing me is it seemingly saying that the alcohol’s only at 2%? I think I can’t be reading that right, it smells boozy and I threw in moonshine to act as a further stabilizer and sanitizer.

 

[newandbuzzingbee]

I think that the main thing throwing me is it seemingly saying that the alcohol’s only at 2%? I think I can’t be reading that right, it smells boozy and I threw in moonshine to act as a further stabilizer and sanitizer.

Yeah I just tasted it for the first time, that thing is Boozy.

 

[newandbuzzingbee]

Yeah I just tasted it for the first time, that thing is Boozy.

Here are some better pics as well.

 

[IslandLizard]

Welcome to homebrewing and our forums!
Your hydrometer currently reads a gravity of 1.010 (at the bottom of the meniscus).

Ignore the % alcohol scale it's intended to show alcohol potential, to be read when you start fermentation, and expect it to finish at 1.000.

What was your starting gravity (before fermentation started)?
ABV = (OG – FG) * 131.25
https://www.brewersfriend.com/homebrew/recipe/calculator

If (for example) your OG was 1.070 and fermentation has indeed completed (FG is 1.010), your ABV will be (1.070-1.010) * 131.25 = 0.060 * 131.25 = 7.9%
So yes, that confirms why it tastes (a little) boozy.

 

[newandbuzzingbee]

Welcome to homebrewing and our forums!
Your hydrometer currently reads a gravity of 1.010 (at the bottom of the meniscus).

Ignore the % alcohol scale it's intended to show alcohol potential, to be read when you start fermentation, and expect it to finish at 1.000.

What was your starting gravity (before fermentation started)?
ABV = (OG – FG) * 131.25
https://www.brewersfriend.com/homebrew/recipe/calculator

If (for example) your OG was 1.070 and fermentation has indeed completed (FG is 1.010), your ABV will be (1.070-1.010) * 131.25 = 0.060 * 131.25 = 7.9%
So yes, that confirms why it tastes (a little) boozy.

Thank you for explaining this so clearly Unfortunately I didn’t take a starting gravity — this is my first batch of mead and I thought that step was fully optional. I’m taking gravity readings now to check on fermentation.

 

[IslandLizard]

Unfortunately I didn’t take a starting gravity

Although it's handy to know, the (starting) gravity itself is not all that important, neither is the % of alcohol in the final product (you're not selling it and pay taxes accordingly).

It's the kinds and the amounts of the ingredients you used that will determine how far down it will ferment. When left to ferment out completely, the yeast will usually take care of it without intervention. Having added the right kind of nutrients is important to help the yeast complete her task.

Perhaps you can reconstruct your recipe, the kinds of ingredients and amounts you used, and get a reasonable estimate of the final %ABV.