hydrometer

[brewing4fun]

I am a first time home brewer. Does the hydrometer act like a thermometer when taking a reading after you place it in your test jar?

 

[WileECoyote]

Hello, it floats and the height that the liquid is at on the hydrometer is your reading.

Cheers

 

[unionrdr]

The hydrometer measures the specific gravity of the liquid,in this case,wort. The more sugars dissolved in it,the higher up it floats,thus giving higher numbered readings. As the wort ferments,producing alcohol,the hydrometer floats lower,giving lower numbered readings. Alcohol is lighter than the dissolved sugars,thus making the hydrometer sink into the fermenting beer farther.

 

[flars]

Here is a link that explains the hydrometer. The online book is old and somewhat out of date, but some information doesn't change.

http://www.howtobrew.com/appendices/appendixA.html