OG, SP and TG

[jeremyx]

Been all-grain brewing for a few batches. Having fun with it mostly. Some great beer, some not so great.

Now I'm trying to get serious about getting things right and I realize I don't know much about taking gravity readings.

* When do I take the OG reading? After I collect the wort from the lauter tun? After the hop boil?
* When to check the gravity to know when fermentation is done? I usually just let it go for 3-4 days in the primary, rack to secondary and then bottle when it looks good (5 - 10 days later). Do I check the gravity when it's in the secondary?

Thanks for the help!

 

[EvilGnome6]

On brew day I take two gravity readings:

1) Pre-Boil gravity. This one lets me know how good my mash efficiency was.

2) Original Gravity. I take this one right before I pitch the yeast.

For tracking fermentation, I just take gravity readings once a week. When I have the same reading two weeks in a row, I call it done. Then I'll transfer it to a bright tank and cool it down for a week before bottling.

 

[Brew-boy]

Everything Gnome said but I don't keep checking until Kegging day. The more you stay out of it and leave it alone the better.