How long to wait out fermentation to avoid gravity readings

[Christoff]

You changed from refract to tilt pretty quick unless I didn't read the time stamp right.

If you keg you could keg you beer before it's done and use a sounding valve to see when the pressure stops building...then it's done...or stalled.

I didn't have much luck with a refrac post fermentation being accurate.

Yeah I did. But it was cheaper and I realized it wasn’t going to solve the parts of the issues I wanted to solve. Now I have both. Oops

 

[jerrylotto]

Yeah I did. But it was cheaper and I realized it wasn’t going to solve the parts of the issues I wanted to solve. Now I have both. Oops

Use the refractometer after your boil to get an OG. Use the tilt to confirm OG and monitor the progress of your fermentation. If you need to do so, double check the final gravity with a hydrometer. Every tool has an application and that's how I use them.

 

[Christoff]

Use the refractometer after your boil to get an OG. Use the tilt to confirm OG and monitor the progress of your fermentation. If you need to do so, double check the final gravity with a hydrometer. Every tool has an application and that's how I use them.

Good idea. Though I use the hydrometer away the tail end of the boil

 

[JohnDBrewer]

When I started homebrewing, I use to want to check and follow the specific gravity all the time. These were the days before technology. I would pull a sample after I pitched the yeast. That sample for my hydrometer would never go back into the fermenter, but be put into a beer bottle, covered loosely with foil and kept in the same area as the fermenter. Ideally touching it so it matches the temp of the fermenter. Then I could test the gravity whenever I wanted and not worry about sanitizing everything, contamination or oxygen exposure.

 

[Christoff]

When I started homebrewing, I use to want to check and follow the specific gravity all the time. These were the days before technology. I would pull a sample after I pitched the yeast. That sample for my hydrometer would never go back into the fermenter, but be put into a beer bottle, covered loosely with foil and kept in the same area as the fermenter. Ideally touching it so it matches the temp of the fermenter. Then I could test the gravity whenever I wanted and not worry about sanitizing everything, contamination or oxygen exposure.

That’s a good idea. I hate messing with beer

 

[ncbrewer]

When I started homebrewing, I use to want to check and follow the specific gravity all the time. These were the days before technology. I would pull a sample after I pitched the yeast. That sample for my hydrometer would never go back into the fermenter, but be put into a beer bottle, covered loosely with foil and kept in the same area as the fermenter. Ideally touching it so it matches the temp of the fermenter. Then I could test the gravity whenever I wanted and not worry about sanitizing everything, contamination or oxygen exposure.

I wouldn't trust the sample gravity to match the main batch gravity. Temperature would likely be different in the small sample, which would affect the rate of fermentation.

 

[JohnDBrewer]

Actually it tracks quite closely. That's why I said keep the sample touching the fermenter so the temps are more consistent. I will add you should always check the main batches final gravity especially if bottling. How does Tilt do once krausen or yeast attach to them, or do they float below the surface?

 

[KeizerBrewr]

What @JohnDBrewer is talking about is basically a type of forced ferment test. Instead of on a stir plate in the kitchen, its in a beer bottle so he can keep tabs on fermentation.

 

[jerrylotto]

Actually it tracks quite closely. That's why I said keep the sample touching the fermenter so the temps are more consistent. I will add you should always check the main batches final gravity especially if bottling. How does Tilt do once krausen or yeast attach to them, or do they float below the surface?

Even if attached krausen throws it off a little bit, you can always double check your final gravity using a different method and if there are no changes over a series of a few days fermentation is done, regardless of whether it's an accurate reading or not.

 

[JohnDBrewer]

Even if attached krausen throws it off a little bit, you can always double check your final gravity using a different method and if there are no changes over a series of a few days fermentation is done, regardless of whether it's an accurate reading or not.

Exactly, the bottle method is the same. It will track close enough to enjoy th process of tracking your fermentation and give you an idea of when it is done.