Hydrometer Advice Needed

[bracconiere]

not salt,

SG is SG isn't it? wither it's salt lifting it to float higher or sugar? the refractive index might be different, but not the SG?

 

[wsmith1625]

If you haven't used a hydrometer before, there are a few things you should know. Hydrometers are calibrated at a set temp, typically 60 or 68 degrees. You should cool your wort to the calibration temp when taking readings or use an online calculator to do the temperature correction. The calibration temp is usually printed on the hydrometer somewhere.

https://www.brewersfriend.com/hydrometer-temp/
Another thing is they're pretty fragile. Make sure you have enough liquid in your test jar so the hydrometer doesn't bottom out and break. If you break a hydrometer and you probably will, there's a post for that.

https://www.homebrewtalk.com/threads/official-broken-hydrometer-count.148083/

 

[BrewingWisdom]

When fermenting beer (or wine, cider, mead, etc.) we do NOT measure alcohol.*
Instead, we measure (specific) gravity (SG or Brix), which is an indication of its sugar content.
For that we use a hydrometer or a refractometer (for sugar, not salt, or other solutes such as antifreeze, etc.).

The OG (original gravity) is the gravity of the sugar solution (an indication of sugar content) before fermentation, the FG (final gravity), after it's done.
With these 2 numbers expressed in SG (e.g., 1.016) we can calculate alcohol content:

(OG - FG) * 131.25 = % Alcohol by volume (%ABV)​

Or even simpler, use a calculator such as this one:
https://www.brewersfriend.com/abv-calculator/
The equations used and the theory behind those calculators is here:
https://www.brewersfriend.com/2011/06/16/alcohol-by-volume-calculator-updated/
On a side note...

Look around here, there are not many homebrewers who talk like that, and we tend to frown upon those who do...

We brew beer, make wine, cider, mead, etc. We are proud of the homebrew we make. Believe it or not, making alcohol is NOT the sole or even main reason we homebrew, I think I'm speaking for most of us.

For most homebrewers, alcohol is considered a byproduct of fermentation. Sure, alcohol helps carrying flavor, aroma, and such and it may give you a little buzz, comes with the territory, we don't shy away from it.
IOW, the majority of homebrewers enjoy the fermented products we make. We try perfecting our techniques to make our homebrew efforts better, such as flavor, aroma, color, foam, mouthfeel, sensation, etc., improving overall quality. Alcohol just comes with it, but we're not solely homebrewing for the buzz.

I understand, in countries where alcohol consumption is outlawed, making some for personal consumption can be the holy grail. Shhh, hush hush!
And yeah, without that one would also miss experiencing those awesome flavors, aromas, mouthfeel, and other sensations that come with fermented products. Heck, even a little buzz can be needed at times, or is just a welcome side effect.

* Those who distill do measure alcohol content directly in a similar way we measure sugar content (gravity).

I ve passed that stage of drinking just for the sake of getting high long time ago. In my initial days of drinking as a teenager the sole aim was to get high lol and act like drunk people in indian movies. Started with low quality local made whisky and vodka , which was just a harsh ethanol without any aroma and flavor. Often drank too much and ended up vomiting ewwww.... because I had no idea how to drink properly. One time I got violent and verbally abuse my friend lol. Once I called girl a **** in a classroom in front of a teacher lol.
Three times I got caught by the police.
In summers when the temperature hits 45 C here I was drinking vodka neat lol didn't knew its made for a cold weather. Then followed the crisis of puking and worst hangover.
Then after around two years everything changed when I got my hands on imported smuggled alcohol through a bootlegger in my city who provide alcohol to elite social class here. My first whisky was teachers scotch whisky. After drinking that whisky my whole perception of alcohol was changed ,what a beautiful combination of aromas, spices, fruity notes , woody character and buzz was present in that whisky. I drank little shots on the rocks and slight water on the recommendation of a pro whisky drinker in my social circle. I realized the whiskies I drank before were just insult to a whisky. Then tried imported beer , wine etc and all were exceptionally good. Though the one and only brewery we have produces beer which is equally good to any other imported beer.
In 2012 I moved to Russia for a study. Overthere I drank all kinds of high quality alcohol and learnt to drink properly by mingling among the local Russians and other foreigners.
Since then I never repeated those initial days mistakes and now when I drink I also look for a aroma, taste etc besides a buzz. I am on this forum for a reason ,I am aiming to produce a equally good product like what you people drink in the western world.
Finally I didn't mean to offend you or anyone. Sorry that was not intentional. Peace.

 

[bracconiere]

well i just f'd around...

used my hydro, that's 'plain form' even to do it so ALL it has is SG....goes from .995 to 1.070....

and this chart to confirm just because i wanted to know if i'm stupid or not...didn't have any sodium chloride on hand, but did have some poassium (i use it for making lite salt)....

https://www.engineeringtoolbox.com/...anic-potassium-salt-concentration-d_1956.html
so i added ~38g's sugar to water that was brought up to 250ml... got the ~1.058 i should...then i added 18g's potassium chloride to the cyclinder and brought up to 250ml...and got what that chart tells me i should? which i was shooting for 7.5%/wt so that the readings would be similar? and they were? so yeah salinity hydros JUST measure SG? which works for all kinds of different dissasosiated stuff in water?

(and mof'rs 38g's of sugar could have been THREE beers worth! )

 

[IslandLizard]

now when I drink I also look for a aroma, taste etc besides a buzz. I am on this forum for a reason ,I am aiming to produce a equally good product like what you people drink in the western world.

Glad to hear, we're all on the same page then: you, me, and the large majority of members on this site.
All good!

With those aspects in mind, creating excellent fermented (and alcoholic) beverages that rival and surpass commercial products, there is much more to talk about.

For starters:
=> Are you controlling the temps of your fermentations (beer, wine, etc.), and how?
Fermentation temps are probably the single most important variable to create better beer.

The optimum temp range to ferment at is mostly determined by the yeast strain you're using, and the flavor/aroma profile you're after. Fermenting at higher temps increases the formation of higher order (or fusel) alcohols that don't taste good, as well as other byproducts that can (and will) negatively impact the flavor/aroma of your beer (or wine, mead, etc.).

 

[bracconiere]

well i was laughing, and am self consious....so i just bought this thing off ebay....

https://www.ebay.com/itm/294484647280?hash=item4490a71d70:g:SYcAAMXQ855Rv6L7

going to float it next to my other hydro next to each other see if they are agreeable, and i get some....



ALL FOR THE SAKE OF, well...i good laugh, and to help a brother not waste his Rs's!

 

[BrewingWisdom]

With those aspects in mind, creating excellent fermented (and alcoholic) beverages that rival and surpass commercial products, there is much more to talk about.

For you it's just saving money , following passion.
Though for me it's much more than that.

 

[bracconiere]

Though for me it's much more than that.

feel the 'spirit' and know god loves you?

 

[BrewingWisdom]

well i was laughing, and am self consious....so i just bought this thing off ebay....

https://www.ebay.com/itm/294484647280?hash=item4490a71d70:g:SYcAAMXQ855Rv6L7

going to float it next to my other hydro next to each other see if they are agreeable, and i get some....



ALL FOR THE SAKE OF, well...i good laugh, and to help a brother not waste his Rs's!

Thanks man but I think you should not waste your dollars to save my rupees lol. I can wait for my Chinese parcel ,I am used to waiting that's my destiny lol.
That meter you ordered looks like a identical product I have available on daraz.pk.
On a positive its a good research and will increase your knowledge.Cheers

 

[skeeterman]

If you haven't used a hydrometer before, there are a few things you should know. Hydrometers are calibrated at a set temp, typically 60 or 68 degrees. You should cool your wort to the calibration temp when taking readings or use an online calculator to do the temperature correction. The calibration temp is usually printed on the hydrometer somewhere.

https://www.brewersfriend.com/hydrometer-temp/
Another thing is they're pretty fragile. Make sure you have enough liquid in your test jar so the hydrometer doesn't bottom out and break. If you break a hydrometer and you probably will, there's a post for that.

https://www.homebrewtalk.com/threads/official-broken-hydrometer-count.148083/

Rather than take the time to chill the wort, why not measure the temp and make the correction? An inexpensive BBQ instant read thermometer is available for around $10. As for hydrometers being fragile, we never order only one. Buy two.

 

[BrewingWisdom]

feel the 'spirit' and know god loves you?

No I mean the risk I take and the huge amount I pay. Almost five times more then what you pay. And to be among very very few people in this place who are independent because of this knowledge and experience (at this point I am just a noob )

 

[bracconiere]

Thanks man but I think you should not waste your dollars to save my rupees lol.

$10 is less then a twelve pack...or 2 gallons of gas now....and people intimidate me, so i want to see if i'm wrong or not....for sure. worth $10 to me

No I mean the risk I take and the huge amount I pay. Almost five times more then what you pay. And to be among very very few people in this place who are independent because of this knowledge and experience (at this point I am just a noob )

but the khat tea flows freely right? i have problems with that here in the states

 

[bracconiere]

And to be among very very few people in this place who are independent because of this knowledge

i hope i'm not helping you become a gangster? and just be free.....

 

[BrewingWisdom]

$10 is less then a twelve pack...or 2 gallons of gas now....and people intimidate me, so i want to see if i'm wrong or not....for sure. worth $10 to me



but the khat tea flows freely right? i have problems with that here in the states

What is khat tea?

i hope i'm not helping you become a gangster? and just be free.....

No lol don't worry . The drinks will be for my personal consumption only or to share with friends.
That means to not rely on a piece of **** bootlegger pimp who exploits you for a money.
I have no plans to open a brewery or bootlegging business.
If consuming alcohol equals gangsterism then we are all in the same club

 

[bracconiere]

That means to not rely on a piece of **** bootlegger pimp who exploits you for a money.

What is khat tea?

maybe 'Qat' there? isn't that what you drink instead of above quote, by freshmen chemistry students?

 

[BrewingWisdom]

maybe 'Qat' there? isn't that what you drink instead of above quote, by freshmen chemistry students?

Oh Americans and their geography lol.
Dude pakistan isn't in the middle east its in south asia.
That khat tea is famous in some arab and most African countries. No one here drinks that tea.
Though things related to cannabis are very common here. Hashish , bhang(local cannabis drink).Because of the neighboring Afghanistan. We also grow cannabis on our areas close to Afghan border.
It's illegal but a very socially acceptable thing. In public places you often smell cannabis in the air. Seeing people smoking joints. I've never seen anyone here getting arrested from hashish smoking.
Different cultures are interesting and Rip logic lol.
Both are intoxicants but alcohol is taken more seriously here.

 

[bracconiere]

Dude pakistan isn't in the middle east its in south asia.

you're west of india right? i actually thought khat was all through those arid places? i had a couple plants myself here for a while...but lost them

(and OT i should get my aquarium hydro fri or saturday this week...)

 

[IslandLizard]

you're west of india right?

NorthWest of India:
Google Maps...
Wikipedia...

 

[bracconiere]

NorthWest of India:
Google Maps...
Wikipedia...

yeah i looked it up, and have to admit i had pakistan and iran backwards.. i thought iran was the country bordering india, and pakistan was the one directly west of it bordering iran..but i thought those plants grew all through those parts because it doesn't ever freeze in any of them....

(gives me an idea if brewingwisdom can't get a hydro...maybe different freezing points will reveal how much sugar is present? )

 

[BrewingWisdom]

yeah i looked it up, and have to admit i had pakistan and iran backwards.. i thought iran was the country bordering india, and pakistan was the one directly west of it bordering iran..but i thought those plants grew all through those parts because it doesn't ever freeze in any of them....

(gives me an idea if brewingwisdom can't get a hydro...maybe different freezing points will reveal how much sugar is present? )

Man looks like you skipped the geography class in high school
Anyways these days just a Google search can give you more than a geography class.

 

[bracconiere]

Man looks like you skipped the geography class in high school

high school, that's where all the other kids got beat up! i quit school after the 4th grade!

edit: ( tell you the truth, i don't even know what 'state' is directly east of me!

 

[BrewingWisdom]

high school, that's where all the other kids got beat up! i quit school after the 4th grade!

edit: ( tell you the truth, i don't even know what 'state' is directly east of me!

Wow I thought in such a developed and educated country everyone is at least a university graduate.
Well you are a knowledgeable person ,experience is the best teacher. You don't have to learn everything from a formal education system.
Just curious what do you do for a living ?

 

[bracconiere]

Wow I thought in such a developed and educated country everyone is at least a university graduate.

no? they are all in prison for letting drug dealers take advantage of them?

Just curious what do you do for a living ?

complicated? (embarrassed enough to not want to say)

 

[BrewingWisdom]

no? they are all in prison for letting drug dealers take advantage of them?




complicated? (embarrassed enough to not want to say)

Look man I am by no mean looking down upon you. I am just curious so asking questions because what you just told me is shocking to me. A complete opposite of what my perception was.

 

[bracconiere]

A complete opposite of what my perception was.

well, that's just my view and what i deal with..that's why i like drinking for the ease and simplicity of making all my own of it...i've had to learn some basic chemistry skills to fight off the.. well you said it best!

That means to not rely on a piece of **** bootlegger pimp who exploits you for a money.

but honestly man...when it gets dark enough in 'my' house.... i turn one of these on, not sure what $200 converts to in rupees...but it's a 160" HD screen....

i'm not claiming we're all in hell, just a lot of kiddos get taken by the rock man....

https://www.ebay.com/itm/284720198243?hash=item424aa57263:g:JdMAAOSw0~FiJ7pA

 

[bracconiere]

i just got curious about the exchange rate....this salinity hydro cost me $9 USD, or 1800 Rs's....and it was just for one! you can get a two pack for 600 Rs!

 

[bracconiere]

just was trolling your ebay...and seeing this for $100USD equevalent surprised me!

https://www.daraz.pk/products/2020-...0e.searchlist.list.46.70cd546e7b4mhX&search=1

 

[BrewingWisdom]

i just got curious about the exchange rate....this salinity hydro cost me $9 USD, or 1800 Rs's....and it was just for one! you can get a two pack for 600 Rs!

That's because of the higher sales tax you pay on everything over there or perhaps here most stuff is china made. And labour is really cheap in china as compared to US.

 

[bracconiere]

That's because of the higher sales tax you pay on everything over there or perhaps here most stuff is china made. And labour is really cheap in china as compared to US.

pretty sure it's because nothing is actually free, and 'free shipping' is a beatch....

 

[BrewingWisdom]

pretty sure it's because nothing is actually free, and 'free shipping' is a beatch....

Didn't understand what you are trying to say?