need help determining if fermentation is done with pics!

[al0311]

hi guys another question. I have had my FIRST brew fermenting for 2 weeks now in a glass carboy. I took a gravity reading today to try and determine if its time to bottle. My problem is iam having trouble reading the hydromentor any help on what it might read would be great.

Also, should I take a reading three days in a row to see if is done or not???
the starting gravity was around 1.042 and the Final gravity is supposed to be around 1.010 Iam having alot of trouble trying to read what it says on the hydrometer.

 

[SilverZero]

1.006? That seems low, but maybe you just got really good attenuation. What's the temp of that sample? And what was the yeast?

You should take the reading at least twice, three times is better, on successive days, but if you're past 1.010 I'd say it's not going much further. It's a low-gravity beer, so the alcohol isn't going to lower your reading that much. I just tested two batches yesterday, they were both at 6 days and both around 1.010, so I say they're done, I probably won't check them again (the first is a 6% APA that I just racked to secondary to free up my big bucket and then bottle next weekend anyway, and the other is an IPA that's going to sit for another week in primary anyway).

Honestly, if you've been in primary two weeks, for that size beer, it should be way done with conversion by now.

 

[al0311]

around 63 degrees. would you say that is 1.006? i cant really tell what it is cause of the bubbles

 

[Clann]

Is that 1.004 or 1.006. Either way I would say it is done

 

[DrummerBoySeth]

Whether it is 1.004 or 1.006 doesn't really matter too much... Either one would be low enough that I would think it is done. The key is that the reading stays stable for at least 3 days.

One more tip... I try to fill the sample tube all the way to the top when taking gravity readings. I do this by putting the hydrometer in the tube first, then filling the tube with beer. This will put your readings at the top of the tube, which makes it easier to read. Also, this allows me to spin/bob the hydrometer a few times to ensure that I am getting an accurate reading. I like to take a reading, then lift the hydrometer and re-lower it into the beer to get a second reading. I also like to spin the hydrometer like a top while it is in the test tube to make sure that it is not stuck to the side of the tube and giving an inaccurate reading.

 

[al0311]

oh okay and I used the wyeast slap pack. so, you guys are saying it should be closer to 1.010? iam still trying to understand how to read it does it go by ticks after 1.00? so for example if its right after one that would be 1.001 ?

 

[Clann]

Goes up by 2s top of the blue line in your pic is .990, next line down is .992, .994, ect.

 

[DrummerBoySeth]

Each tic-mark on the hydrometer represents 0.002 gravity points. In your picture, 0.990 is at the point where the blue and white sections meet. The next tic-mark down represents 0.992, the next one past that is 0.994, and so on...

The foam makes it hard to see the EXACT reading, but it appears to be about 2 or 3 tic-marks below the 1.000 line. This means that the reading would be 1.004 or 1.006.

This is where filing the test tube up all the way really helps... You can gently blow the foam off the top, and then spin/dunk the hydrometer a few times to make sure it floats to the same level each time.

Then look at the first number exposed above the level of the beer, and count how many tic-marks are exposed. If the 1.000 is the first full number showing above the beer level, and there are 2 tic-marks below that line showing, then you have a reading of 1.004.

I hope that this has helped, rather than confuse you more!

 

[beergolf]

Get rid of the foam..

I usually take a piece of paper towel and just grab the foam. Nice and clear to get a good reading.

From what I see you are pretty low so I am guessing that it is done.

 

[jroot]

Its real easy to remove the foam with a straw

 

[jonmohno]

Just letting it sit will release the foam as well. Looks well below my normal finish gravitys,seems to be between 1.01-1.00 somewhere in the middle. I just kind of take the hydro and smooth them against the tube and let it sit for a while til i can read it.

 

[al0311]

okay thanks guys for clearing that up on how to read it that really helps alot. I think tommorow ill do another reading after work and bottle wensday

 

[bink00]

you know how when you pour a can of coca-cola it foams real bad and you slurp it up real quick to keep it from over flowing? thats what I do with the foam in my hydro sample tube thingy...why dab it out or pour it out?