MW Honey Steam w/ Czech Pils wyeast diacetyl rest question

[Paintchips37]

Hello,

I'm on my first lager. I used the MW Honey Steam recipe with Czech Pils wyeast (California Lager yeast was 100+ when it arrived and living 2.5 hrs from closest LHBS really killed my buzz. Don't know why i didn't still check to see if it was viable, but cant change that now.)

My hydrometer broke in my sanitizer bucket and didn't realize it until post boil. So I was unable to get an OG. My ipod app estimates an 1.070 OG and a 1.020 FG (Recipe estimates 1.062-1.065 OG and 1.012-1.014 FG with the cali yeast). It has been fermenting for 7 days now, gravity today is 1.038 assuming I used my new refractometer correctly (calibrated with distilled water). If I want to diacetyl rest at 75% fermentation would that be at 1.035? Or, should I just give it 2 weeks then rest b/c I can't be sure I hit the estimates?

Do most people check gravity each day or every other day?

Recipe:
6 lb. Gold liquid malt extract,
3 lb. Minnesota clover honey,
8 oz. Carapils, 8 oz. Caramel 40L specialty grains,
1 oz. Northern Brewer 60min,
2 oz. Cascade hops 2min
Czech Pils Wyeast at 52 degrees

Also, opening my bucket up to test wigged me out. I'm used to just putting my ales in the bucket and kegging a month later.

Thanks!
Doug

 

[Yooper]

Check the Sg with a hydrometer. Refractometers are only accurate when no alcohol is in the mix. There are calculations that can be done to account for alcohol, but in this case it's important to check the SG with a hydrometer for accuracy.

 

[Paintchips37]

Thanks for the reply. I won't have access to a Hydrometer for at least a week while it is delivered. Are online calculators that inaccurate? Blast me for not doing my homework and wasting my money!