OG/FG...Again

[Bhunter87]

Right- but isn't taking the temp in the carboy before pitching the same as taking the temp of the wort that I collected from the carboy and put into the hydrometer test tube?

I'm really sorry to be such a pain. I owe you a beer.

Sure. Actually that makes a lot more sense for Te way you're doing it. I haven't done extract in a while so I can take my hydro and temp in my kettle before pouring into my carboy.

You can do it that way just fine.

 

[JeffoC6]

Sure. Actually that makes a lot more sense for Te way you're doing it. I haven't done extract in a while so I can take my hydro and temp in my kettle before pouring into my carboy.

You can do it that way just fine.

Hahahahhaha, I'm doing all grain

 

[Bhunter87]

Hahahahhaha, I'm doing all grain

Hmm you're doing all grain but the recipe calls for top off water? Never done it that way. Either way, just do your readings in your tube

 

[JeffoC6]

Thanks boss.

No, the recipe doesn't call for top off water, I just haven't been able to master my "boil off" rate, and have continually had less wort than I wanted, so I've had to top off.

 

[Bhunter87]

Thanks boss.

No, the recipe doesn't call for top off water, I just haven't been able to master my "boil off" rate, and have continually had less wort than I wanted, so I've had to top off.

You have to mash and sparge with more than your total to allow for boil off. You can look up how quickly water boils off per hour and adjust accordingly.

 

[Bhunter87]

Post the recipe and instructions please

 

[JeffoC6]

You have to mash and sparge with more than your total to allow for boil off. You can look up how quickly water boils off per hour and adjust accordingly.

I'm doing the BIAB method. I'm calculating .12 gallons of water lost/lb of grains, plus my boil off rate/hr.

Question when calculating the boil off rate though...Do you start the timer once you turn the burner on? Or once the water starts to boil?

 

[JeffoC6]

Post the recipe and instructions please

https://www.homebrewtalk.com/f70/weihenstephaner-dunkel-clone-42549/

That's the recipe. I divided all gains/hops by 5.5 so I can do a 1 gallon batch. I'm doing a BIAB method, so as I said, I'm calculating .12 gallons/grain for water loss PLUS my boil off rate.

 

[Bhunter87]

Boil.

Read this

https://www.homebrewtalk.com/f11/how-do-i-figure-out-my-boil-off-rate-81132/

If you're doing 1 gal batch, I'd end up with +\- 2 gal pre boil.

 

[Bhunter87]

You should try recipes made for 1 gal batches. Or just do bigger batches more beer > less beer

 

[sheeshomatic]

Please don't be worried about returning your sample to your carboy. I started out doing 1 gallon batches and didn't want to lose wort either. I never had a problem or infection with any batch then or now. Just judging by your OCD in this thread, I'd assume your kitchen is like a clean room. Sanitize your cylinder, your hydrometer, re-sanitize the carboy bung when you remove it, sanitize the crap out of the turkey baster or thief you use. I just have a spray bottle of star san that I use to wet everything well. Wait two minutes, take your sample, measure, and then carefully return the sample to the carboy.

For a 60 degree calibrated hydrometer, this calculator works well

http://dd26943.com/davesdreaded/tools/convert.htm

 

[Bhunter87]

Agree ^

But I like tasting

Also, invest in a 6 gal bottling bucket and a few mor 1 gal carboys.

Then you an do bigger batches for cheap and secondary in the 1 gals prime in the 6 gal

 

[mikelikesit2000]

Is beersmith free?

They have a 21 day free trial.

 

[Hang Glider]

Agree ^

But I like tasting

Also, invest in a 6 gal bottling bucket and a few mor 1 gal carboys.

Then you an do bigger batches for cheap and secondary in the 1 gals prime in the 6 gal

Bhunter:
In first post, Original Poster stated he was doing 1 gallon batches for now... He'll move up when he can.


JeffoC6 - you can take the OG and the FG the same way, as you stated in #24. You have it right. Take the reading, and take the temp of your sample. Then you plug it into the calculator and you have your corrected readings - same process for OG and FG. And there's nothing wrong topping off with water if you got excessive evaporation.