Hydrometer reading

[ChandlerBang]

uhhhhhh,

So how much liquid does everyone draw off to get a hydrometer reading? Doesn't that waste a lot if you check it everyday to find the 3 day floor?

Can someone walk me through this like a kid?

 

[Revvy]

You really don't need to check everyday if you are lookig for your 3 day window, you only need 2 readings, 3 days apart and you don't even need to begin doing that til 10 days after your yeast pitch.

And if you are opting for a long primary like the month long one many of us do, skipping secondary altogether, you really don't need to take any, though I generally take 2, one on yeast pitching day, and one on bottling day.

That's my average hydrometer usage for normal beers. If I secondaried, I would wait tile day 12 and take a reading then again on day 14, but often I will just take one on day 14 and if it is my target gravity range that my recipe states, then I am fine with one reading and rack it.

And as to how....and how much. You take as much as you need to fill your sample vessel which is just a few ounces, which you drink after.

 

[jdlev]

Bobby M one of your buddies?

 

[Revvy]

Bobby M one of your buddies?

No, not really....I've never met him, but he's one of members here, and does some really good videos, and this one was tailored for the beginning homebrewer. He does a great job.

 

[92greenyj]

I only take three Hydro readings thru my entire process for one batch of beer.
1. Pre Boil Gravity (to calculate my efficiency. only been doing this since I started using Beer Alchemy)
2. O.G./S.G. (Once wort is cooled. Prior to pitching my yeast)
3. F.G./T.G. (Prior to kegging so I can determine A.B.V.)

F.G. is taken usually after 2 weeks. I usually do a 1 week primary and a 1 week secondary