Need a bit of help with specific gravity

[bourkeco]

I've been out of home brewing for a couple years but with more time on my hands and a better space to use I'm back... I did my first brew, a IPA that was supposed to have a starting gravity of 1.045 well it was more like 1.060. WTH?
Is it possible that my Hydrometer might be bad? I bought a new one right before I took a break from brewing and think i remember having some wonkey readings..

Thanks
Scott

 

[IslandLizard]

Lower volume perhaps?

 

[VikeMan]

Is it possible that my Hydrometer might be bad?

You could test it with distilled water, at whatever temperature (60F or 68F) it was built to.

 

[bourkeco]

Lower volume perhaps?

Forgive me what do you mean?

 

[myndflyte]

Forgive me what do you mean?

I think the question is did you end up with a lower volume than the recipe was made for?

 

[bourkeco]

I think the question is did you end up with a lower volume than the recipe was made for?

No it was a 5 gallon batch. Maybe I tested to soon (not gassed off enough)

 

[myndflyte]

Do you spin your hydrometer when you test? Little bubbles can get trapped and that would increase the gravity.

Was it all grain or extract?

 

[doug293cz]

In order to answer questions about "why is my SG off" you need to supply the recipe, strike and sparge water volumes, brewing process details (extract, all grain, partial mash, no-sparge, batch sparge, fly sparge, etc.), pre-boil volume, post-boil volume, pre-boil SG, and post-boil SG. If doing a sparge, then supplying an end of mash SG is also helpful. Without this information, any advice on cause is purely speculation.

Brew on

 

[bourkeco]

In order to answer questions about "why is my SG off" you need to supply the recipe, strike and sparge water volumes, brewing process details (extract, all grain, partial mash, no-sparge, batch sparge, fly sparge, etc.), pre-boil volume, post-boil volume, pre-boil SG, and post-boil SG. If doing a sparge, then supplying an end of mash SG is also helpful. Without this information, any advice on cause is purely speculation.

Brew on

It was more of a general question about if my hydrometer could be bad Or any general reasons it happens.
I appreciate what you are stating. I should have at least mentioned it was a simple extract brew and I followed the instructions.
When I get to the level where I would have all the information you requested I most likely be dead or not have needed to ask the initial question..LOL
Thanks for giving a lot to think about..

 

[bourkeco]

Thanks for the replies. I now have some ideas to check!

 

[bourkeco]

Do you spin your hydrometer when you test? Little bubbles can get trapped and that would increase the gravity.

Was it all grain or extract?

Extract

 

[myndflyte]

simple extract brew

Was it liquid malt extract? And did you pull the sample from a spigot? Because sometimes LME can sink down and so you pull a more concentrated sample.

 

[bourkeco]

Was it liquid malt extract? And did you pull the sample from a spigot? Because sometimes LME can sink down and so you pull a more concentrated sample.

Yes it was liquid and I used a thief from the fermentor

 

[myndflyte]

Yes it was liquid and I used a thief from the fermentor

Hmm, well if you used the right amount of water and the correct amount of LME, which with it being a kit, there's no question there, then your gravity can just be calculated so you shouldn't be 15 points higher. My thought is that either the LME wasn't fully mixed with the top off water or there were some bubbles on the hydrometer. I'd just test your hydrometer is distilled or RO water, or tap if that's all you got but it should be at or very close to 1.000

 

[VikeMan]

I should have at least mentioned it was a simple extract brew and I followed the instructions.

With an extract kit, if you got a gravity significantly higher than the recipe called for, either the kit's designer screwed up (unlikely), or one of these things happened...

- You ended up with less than the intended volume of wort (boiled away too much).
- You should have topped off with more water after the boil, but didn't, or didn't add enough
- You topped off, but didn't mix it thoroughly before taking the hydrometer sample.
- Measurement error.

 

[bourkeco]

With an extract kit, if you got a gravity significantly higher than the recipe called for, either the kit's designer screwed up (unlikely), or one of these things happened...

- You ended up with less than the intended volume of wort (boiled away too much).
- You should have topped off with more water after the boil, but didn't, or didn't add enough
- You topped off, but didn't mix it thoroughly before taking the hydrometer sample.
- Measurement error.

I topped it up to the right amount. Im pretty sure It was my timing and things not being mixed or rested properly. I will check the hydrometer as soon a I can!

Thanks for everyone's help!

 

[doug293cz]

Did you add the top up water in the fermenter?

Brew on

 

[bourkeco]

Did you add the top up water in the fermenter?

Brew on

Yes my pot does not have a 5 GL mark but it will mow..

 

[doug293cz]

In that case, it is most likely due to not adequately mixing the top up water with the more concentrated wort, and then sampling from a location of higher concentration (SG.) This is a common measurement error when topping up after the boil.

It is highly unlikely that your hydrometer is off by as much as your OG was, unless the paper scale has slipped inside of the stem. A quick check in water should let you know if this is the case.

Brew on

 

[bourkeco]

Update.. Hydrometer is fine (of course ).

Thanks for the rest of the reminders on how to do SGT..