How do I read this thing?

[blowmax10]

Man I almost created a new account to ask this question - I'm embaresed to say that I've been brewing for 2 1/2 years and never figured out how to get a accurate reading from a hydrometer

This is only my second all grain batch

what is the reading on this

Do I have to take into account the head in the test jar?

My pre-boil gravity was 1.038

there is no way it could be 1.060 after going from 5 gallons to 7 right??

whats the right way to take a post boil gravity?

FYI - this was after the wort was chilled to about 76F

 

[scrambledegg81]

1.054, correcting for the foam. Got a few more days to go.

 

[blowmax10]

1.054, correcting for the foam. Got a few more days to go.

Thanks - but I just brewed it - haven't even pitched yeast yet

 

[ramthebuffs]

Hydrometers are calibrated to 60f. Adj Temp

 

[dantodd]

1.038 @ 7 gallons @ 100 F

would be about 1.059 or 1.060 @ 5 gallons @ 76 degrees

Onebeer.net :: Homebrew :: Boil Calculator

ETA: if your pre-boil sample was 80 F your post boil gravity would be closer to 1.058.

 

[blowmax10]

1.038 @ 7 gallons @ 100 F

would be about 1.059 or 1.060 @ 5 gallons @ 76 degrees

Onebeer.net :: Homebrew :: Boil Calculator

sweet

I see said the blind man

Thanks!

 

[ohad]

you read at the point where the hydrometer exits the beer/wort, at the bottom of the meniscus.
If it foams, it makes it harder to read. A simple way to solve this is to remove the foam with a sanitized tea-spoon, and than take a reading.

 

[fredGSX]

I fill the tube of the hydrometer up with the wort then put the hydrometer in. The area the hydrometer takes up pushes the foam out and then I just drain a little more off. I then take the hydrometer and spin it to prevent it from being influanced by the sides of the tube.

 

[blowmax10]

I fill the tube of the hydrometer up with the wort then put the hydrometer in. The area the hydrometer takes up pushes the foam out and then I just drain a little more off. I then take the hydrometer and spin it to prevent it from being influanced by the sides of the tube.

That's a good idea

 

[Falcor]

you read at the point where the hydrometer exits the beer/wort, at the bottom of the meniscus.
If it foams, it makes it harder to read. A simple way to solve this is to remove the foam with a sanitized tea-spoon, and than take a reading.

mine says to read at the top of the meniscus:

http://www.brew-winemaking.com/ProductPDF/4707.pdf

 

[jkarp]

mine says to read at the top of the meniscus:

Assuming a 60 deg calibration temp, simply take a reading of 60 deg distilled water. Wherever 0 is, that's where you do your readings. It's also good to do this test to double-check a new hydrometer. Some aren't as accurate as they should be and you'll need to know any offset value to adjust future readings.

 

[dutch-brew]

I keep a small straw handy, sanitized, and whenever i have foam on top of the wort like that, i just sip/suck it off the top. Has worked for me so far.

 

[EuBrew]

Why is everyone so concerned about sanitization on a 4 oz sample???? Is it worth the risk to add it back to the fermenter??? I think not! I taste my samples at reading temperature, then put it in the fridge and taste again when it's cold. It's always amazing to me how many different flavors appear when the samples been chilled.

 

[Pappers_]

Why is everyone so concerned about sanitization on a 4 oz sample???? Is it worth the risk to add it back to the fermenter??? I think not! I taste my samples at reading temperature, then put it in the fridge and taste again when it's cold. It's always amazing to me how many different flavors appear when the samples been chilled.

Yeah, I always drink it the sample, too. Your note made me think of the Dr. Seuss "Green Eggs and Ham" story - "Do you like them in a box? Do you like them with a fox?"

Or "Do you like beer when its flat? Do you drink beer with your Cat? Do you drink beer when its cold? I need to brew more beer, I'm told."

 

[meluvbeer]

I fill the tube of the hydrometer up with the wort then put the hydrometer in. The area the hydrometer takes up pushes the foam out and then I just drain a little more off. I then take the hydrometer and spin it to prevent it from being influanced by the sides of the tube.

Thats what i do. Makes reading it a whole lot easier...