Hydrometer readings from a bottling bucket?

[SatanPrinceOfDarkness]

So my beginner's kit came with a primary fermenter/bottling bucket with the assumption that the glass carboy would be the secondary fermenter.

I've got a Russian Imperial Stout in the Primary (bottling bucket) and I'm starting to take hydrometer readings to tell if it's done with its business. Is there anything wrong with using the spigot for this process or do I have to take the lid off and scoop it out somehow?

thank you

 

[andrewmaixner]

you can do either. Even just sanitize the hydrometer and drop it right in the beer.

 

[Colorowdy]

I only use bottling buckets for primary and pull samples all the time from the spigot.

 

[okbecker]

I use better bottled with racking adapters and spigots...pull from those every time..just spray it good with sanitizer. RIS for first beer! Awesome, hope it turns out great for you.

 

[HumulusHead]

Go for it man! So awesome with the RIS for brew 1.

No prob with your tactic. And it is possible, as previously stated, to just drop the hydrometer in the bucket. But make damn sure it's sanitized well.

I used to drop a hydrometer into my primary (glass carboy at this time) and not bottle until it reached FG. Just really was hard to read the hydrometer with all the krausen on it

Cheers and such. Again, nice choice in brew 1

 

[SatanPrinceOfDarkness]

I use better bottled with racking adapters and spigots...pull from those every time..just spray it good with sanitizer. RIS for first beer! Awesome, hope it turns out great for you.

Thanks for the tips. I wasn't clear. The RIS is my second brew. I meant beginner's kit as in fermenters, etc.