Hydrometer ?

[Ratfink559]

I see everyone on talk about hydrometer im on my first brew and my kit did come with one but forgot to take reading when went into carboy now im a week and a day in to fermentation ? Should just let it go and enjoy it ?

 

[DisturbdChemist]

Hydrometer is used to tell if the fermentation is done and if its ready to bottle. Also it will tell you how much alcohol is in your brew. I say wait 3-4 week to guaruntee that the fermentation is finish and bottle and enjoy once carbonated

 

[hypergolic]

Yes let it go for a few weeks, then use a hydrometer to take a reading so you can verify it's done. Did the directions specify what the final gravity should be?

 

[birvine]

Any measurement now will not tell you what it was when you started so yes, let it go for now. After a few weeks in primary you can start checking the sg and if it steadies you can proceed to bottle/keg/flavour the beer.

/B

 

[Ratfink559]

Was just verbal instructions from hbs owner and that was the step I forgot to take a reading he told me two weeks in carboy then bottle them and wait two more weeks minimum

 

[KevinW]

Hydrometer is used to tell if the fermentation is done and if its ready to bottle. Also it will tell you how much alcohol is in your brew. I say wait 3-4 week to guaruntee that the fermentation is finish and bottle and enjoy once carbonated

Yup, this is what I would do. If you want to be sure that fermentation is finished take succesive readings for 3 days or so. If the gravity has not changed then is should be safe to bottle/keg without worry. I have lived by the 3-4 week primary to bottle rule and have had no issues at all with NOT taking succesive gravity readings but that is what I do. Secondary or "clearing" is generally not necessary with the exception being adding fruit or dry hopping or doing a beer that requires very long condition times.

If you are doing an extract batch you can calculate the original gravity based on the weight of the extract used. Extract gives ~8 gravity points per pound for a 5 gallon batch so 6lbs of extract in a 5 gall batch should give an OG of ~1.040-1.045. Not exact numbers but will put you in the ballpark!

 

[AngusPA]

I had the same question - actually, i took a hydrometer reading but did it before i added water at the end so not very useful. I guess i could probably divide by two as an estimate. How do you take a hydromter reading once it's in the carboy? Do you take some beer out (ie. with a turkey baster) and put into a seperate container, take reading, then throw away?

 

[AxisDenied]

even if you used it originally, the results would of been incorrect. Just let it go you'll be fine the photo you sent looks great!

 

[KevinW]

I had the same question - actually, i took a hydrometer reading but did it before i added water at the end so not very useful. I guess i could probably divide by two as an estimate. How do you take a hydromter reading once it's in the carboy? Do you take some beer out (ie. with a turkey baster) and put into a seperate container, take reading, then throw away?

A sanitized turkey baster or wine thief works fine I have used a racking cane and just dipped it several times to fill my sample cylinder. It us usually about 3-4oz for a test. After I check the temp of the beer and get my gravity reading I then pour the beer in a glass and taste the sample. I like to taste the beer from wort to finished product whenever I can just to know how things are going but of course it is not necessary.