Hydrometer

[plord]

Hi, I'm in the middle of the boil of my first ever batch and just broke my hydrometer. I will not be able to measure the specific gravity prior to the beginning of fermentation, but I do plan to keep a sample aside for periodic SG measurement (once I get another hydrometer). I assume this will not kill me, but just won't allow me to determine the exact alcohol content. Is that correct? Any suggestions. Thanks.

Phillip

 

[AUEnder]

You will make beer. Don't sweat it.

If you keep a sample to take a gravity reading be sure you adjust for temperature.

 

[kh54s10]

If you keep a sample to test later make sure you take it before adding yeast. Otherwise you will not get a reading of the original gravity. You would get something between OG and FG.

If you are doing an extract kit you could just skip the OG. If you didn't do anything wrong it should be within a point or two of the recipe's stated OG. So you could just take the final gravity and calculate the ABV that way. Or just assume you are very close to the recipe's ABV.

 

[Golddiggie]

As long as your in fermenter volume is correct, and (as already mentioned) you didn't do anything off script, the OG should be where the recipe says. IF You end up with more, or less, volume in the fermenter, then shake the living hell out of it (assuming you didn't do a full batch boil) to get the wort fully mixed, and then reserve a sample in a sanitized jar. Once you get your new hydrometer, get the OG reading.

I would advise getting a refractometer for use on brew-day. You don't need to worry about it braking and you use far less wort for the sample.

I wouldn't use the small sample to take 'periodic SG measurements' since it won't be what the main batch is doing. IMO, on the home brew scale, it's useless (or worse). Depending on what you're making, leave it in primary for the full amount of time (review the no secondary model that many of us follow) and then pull a sample for testing. Drink the sample after you've taken the SG (and recorded it). If it tastes good, then wait another 2-3 days and repeat. IF there's zero SG movement, that should be the FG. But, if it has any off flavors, don't bottle it. Leave it in longer. There's very few off flavors that more time won't cure (didn't say none, since you can have some that are beyond repair no matter how long you give it).

Also, before you post up asking, fermentation can take up to 72 hours to show. But, just because it's been that long, or longer, and you don't see airlock movements, doesn't mean squat. If you don't have a tight seal on the fermenter, CO2 can be leaking out in places other than the airlock. Especially if you're using a bucket fermenter. If you're using a carboy, then as long as you got the bung into it's hole properly, the airlock will do it's job and vent excess CO2.

Eventually, you'll get to the point where you don't need to see things going on inside the fermenter. And you know that fermentation is going through signs other than the airlock. Such as the wort's temperature has increased since you pitched the yeast.

BTW, welcome to the obsession... Now, what did you brew and what's your next batch going to be? If you don't have another primary, time to order one already. :rockin:

 

[chuckd27]

How long do you leave the hydrometer in the tube to take a reading? Untill it stops moving?

 

[Golddiggie]

I usually give it a spinning dip into the sample to get any air bubbles out from under it, then let it settle before taking the reading. No harm from letting it sit for a while, as long as you don't knock it over that is.

 

[chuckd27]

I usually give it a spinning dip into the sample to get any air bubbles out from under it, then let it settle before taking the reading. No harm from letting it sit for a while, as long as you don't knock it over that is.

Ok thanks. Appreciate it

 

[chuckd27]

I usually give it a spinning dip into the sample to get any air bubbles out from under it, then let it settle before taking the reading. No harm from letting it sit for a while, as long as you don't knock it over that is.

What happens if I leave in the bucket aftert the hydrometer keeps a steady reading? Is that bad? Is the world going to end?

 

[Golddiggie]

What happens if I leave in the bucket aftert the hydrometer keeps a steady reading? Is that bad? Is the world going to end?

I wouldn't... For one thing, how are you going to brew another batch with your hydrometer in one that's fermenting? Plus, you don't need to take constant readings. You can actually take the OG, give it X weeks, then take a SG, 2-4 days later take another SG and if it matches you have the FG. Of course, if it doesn't taste right (you drink the samples, don't put them back in) you leave it for longer.

BTW, there's plenty of threads about how to pull the hydrometer sample. Most common include a stainless turkey baster (regular or extra long) and a 3 piece beer thief.

 

[woodstone]

Your hydrometer's suicide saved you some grief and worry...let it ferment out for three weeks, bottle or keg, and enjoy when ready.

Gravity, smavity...yep, it has alcohol in it.

I have had six hydrometer's kill themselves....PITA.

I just stopped using them and make fine beers.

...probably not the advice many on here would offer but I do, none the less!

Cheers!

 

[Golddiggie]

I go 4-6 weeks for my normal brews, in primary.
I use a refractometer on brew-day to get my OG.
I check the FG on kegging day, with my hydrometer, to see where the batch finished.
I'm still on my original hydrometer after over 30 batches of beer, mead, and other items (only been brewing/fermenting since November 2010).

 

[timdsmith72]

Your hydrometer's suicide saved you some grief and worry...let it ferment out for three weeks, bottle or keg, and enjoy when ready.

Gravity, smavity...yep, it has alcohol in it.

I have had six hydrometer's kill themselves....PITA.

I just stopped using them and make fine beers.

...probably not the advice many on here would offer but I do, none the less!

Cheers!

Hehe. I've been brewing over 7ish years and have never once taken a gravity reading. I've only done extract brews so far though. I'm putting together equipment for all grain brews at the moment and I'm thinking about actually buying one and trying it out when doing my first all grain batch.

 

[sheeshomatic]

What happens if I leave in the bucket aftert the hydrometer keeps a steady reading? Is that bad? Is the world going to end?

The other thing to add about what Golddiggie said as to leaving your hydrometer in the fermenter is that the CO2 bubbles will attach themselves to the hydrometer (just like a straw in a soda) and make it more buoyant. It will read too high. Depending on the beer and how much dissolved CO2 is in there I need to pour my sample between a measuring cup and my cylinder a few times to outgas it. My SG winds up going down several points. Maybe I'll put some rain-X on it. (kidding)

 

[sheeshomatic]

Hehe. I've been brewing over 7ish years and have never once taken a gravity reading. I've only done extract brews so far though. I'm putting together equipment for all grain brews at the moment and I'm thinking about actually buying one and trying it out when doing my first all grain batch.

Gravity isn't all that important with extract brews because if you have the right water volume, you have the right gravity. It can be somewhat dangerous if you bottle with priming sugar before hitting FG however.

With AG, gravity can vary wildly especially with bigger beers and it is very helpful to dial in grain crush, mash ratio, etc. Plus I just like to know how much alcohol my brew has in it. I like to be able to repeat a recipe and make it exactly the same time in and time out if I want to.

 

[timdsmith72]

Gravity isn't all that important with extract brews because if you have the right water volume, you have the right gravity. It can be somewhat dangerous if you bottle with priming sugar before hitting FG however.

With AG, gravity can vary wildly especially with bigger beers and it is very helpful to dial in grain crush, mash ratio, etc. Plus I just like to know how much alcohol my brew has in it. I like to be able to repeat a recipe and make it exactly the same time in and time out if I want to.

Yep. I've never had bottle bombs thank goodness. Probably because I always let mine sit a minimum of 3 weeks in the primary.

And that's exactly why I'm going to get one when I go AG. I want to be able to dial in my process.

 

[two_hearted]

Sometimes I feel like the only one who is still using their original hydrometer. 6 years and still going strong. *knocks on wood*

 

[william_shakes_beer]

I take an OG before I pitch yeast by dropping the sanitized hydrometer into the fermenter. Then I take a FG from the fermenter before racking onto the priming sugar on bottling day. I wait 4 weeks in between.

 

[badhabit]

Do yourself a favor, when you get around to getting a new hydrometer, don't! You can get a temp corrected refractometer for $25 any time you want it. You will actualy use it and learn to let it help you make a beter final product.

 

[chuckd27]

I wouldn't... For one thing, how are you going to brew another batch with your hydrometer in one that's fermenting? Plus, you don't need to take constant readings. You can actually take the OG, give it X weeks, then take a SG, 2-4 days later take another SG and if it matches you have the FG. Of course, if it doesn't taste right (you drink the samples, don't put them back in) you leave it for longer.

BTW, there's plenty of threads about how to pull the hydrometer sample. Most common include a stainless turkey baster (regular or extra long) and a 3 piece beer thief.[/QUOTE I don't put the hydrometer in the brewing container There is a spigot tht I have that I put in the tube to take the reading. I was just wondering what would happen if FG was reached and it was not bottled right away. ]

 

[themack22]

I did an extract brew on Monday and after the boil I added 1.25 gallons of water. Half of what the recipe called for. I went to check the OG and the hydrometer didn't float at all. Did I add too much water? I did this recipe before and the hydrometer floated. Is this bad? I ended up adding the rest of the water (2.5 gal) to top off the fermenter at 5 gallons, per the recipe.

Looks good to go. I hope this one is drinkable. My first one was sour (acetobacter I assume) and the second one just had a slight acetobacter taste to it, but still only somewhat drinkable. I got all glass this time, so I hope it turns out.

 

[Golddiggie]

If it goes longer you'll get even better beer 99% of the time. I don't bottle/keg when it hits FG, I wait long enough for the batch to actually be ready. For me, that's essentially ready for drinking (except for carbonation).

You can go several weeks (or longer) from boil to bottle/keg. Don't worry about having to put it to bottle/keg just because the recipe says to after x days. Ignoring that part of the recipe can lead to great batches. Especially since very few systems are the same (or close enough to make it work). When you get a fermentation chamber you can shorten the timw to keg/bottle but you're still not required go go to bottle/keg at a specific time.

 

[squirrelly]

I am notorious for bringing hydrometers to their demise. In the 7 years of brewing I've broken 5. My wife started stock piling them and hiding them from me. Now I just use a refractometer to make it easier for temp adjustments and keep from breaking hydrometers.

I wouldn't worry too much about your SG at this point; so long as the recipe was followed. I would, however pick up another hydrometer to monitor the FG.

As far as keeping a sample to test later, I usually advise against that. Once you draw your sample and leave it out for X amount of days/hours wild yeast will start fermenting the sample, and an accurate reading is still not guaranteed.

I would pick up two hydrometers so when you break your next one at least you'll have another on hand.