Oh my gosh, this is stressful!

[RM-MN]

Was this an extract batch where you boiled about 2 1/2 gallons and then did top off with water into the fermenter? If so, your hydrometer reading is not accurate because getting the concentrated wort thoroughly mixed with the top off water is very difficult and it is common to take a sample that has more water than wort, giving you a false low reading. If this was such a kit, the expected OG would have been listed on the package. Use that instead of your hydrometer reading for the OG.

 

[nicklawmusic]

Yes, it's a Wilkos Newkie Brown extract kit. I'm not sure whether it stated the original gravity on the can, only the target final gravity.

 

[nicklawmusic]

Yes, I topped it off with water. I have the mixture a good stir. Should I have shaken the fermenting bucket to get all the extract mixed?

 

[Homercidal]

You should have just mixed it well.

If you are using a kit, and adding the CORRECT amount of water, your gravity and ABV will be correct. There is no efficiency concerns with extract.

Also, you may wish to get rid of the bubbles in the tube when you take a hydro reading. It will be easier to read.

 

[nicklawmusic]

I definitely mixed it well. It called for 23 litres of water but I did 21 as I wanted a more concentrated batch.

 

[Hello]

I didn't see you answer the question about the yeast you used. Can you tell us that?
Also, the photo you show does not indicate a gravity of 1.035. In fact, it reads about 1.044 or just a bit more because you have all the bubbles, but safe to say 1.044 at least. The 1.030 range is the white above the orange. Once the white stopped, you entered the 1.040 range. Each notch represents .002 points (if that is the right word). So the line between white and orange is 1.040, the next is 1.042, and the next is 1.044. You read the line just below the liquid.

If you're at 1.017 now, which I am not certain you are because based on your text and your photos, you're reading the hydrometer wrong, then your ABV is 3.54%. Not knowing the yeast you used, it is hard to say where it should have ended but I am fairly certain you shouldn't have an issue seeing 1.010 if you followed the kit instructions. Even if you pitched then went and sloshed your wort around, eventually it would have settled and started. I drove home with a carboy of work after pitching and it's fermenting just fine. It was a slow start but it was intended to be that way due to the style of beer and the yeast.

Can you confirm the yeast as well as show a picture of the hydrometer reading now? If you've just opened the fermenter and took a reading, wait a few days before you do that. You need to be careful about spending your time opening up your fermentation vessel repeatedly because you will have crappy beer. It'll be beer, but it'll be crappy most likely due to oxidation.

 

[MrHadack]

Also, the photo you show does not indicate a gravity of 1.035. In fact, it reads about 1.044 or just a bit more because you have all the bubbles, but safe to say 1.044 at least. T

This isn't correct. See the red and the green sections on the hydrometer? Those indicate below 1.000 (red) and above 1.000 (green.) The thicker black line between the two colors is 1.000. So you can see the long line on the hydrometer UNDER the number indicates the level of that number. So Nick's reading is correct at around. 1.035

 

[jtratcliff]

So Nick's reading is correct at around. 1.035

Not with all those bubbles it's not...

Wait for the bubbles to go, give the hydro a little spin to dislodge any bubbles stuck to it, then read it again. I think you'll come up with a different result.

 

[nicklawmusic]

That was my OG so that's all I have to go on. I couldn't get rid of the bubbles but took an accurate reading down at the water level (ie: not from above) and it was definitely 1035.

 

[nicklawmusic]

In fact, I'm pretty sure now that I think about it that I made sure I wasn't reading those bubbles. I'm about 95% sure the reading is 1035

 

[ChuBru]

I've just taken a hydrometer reading of my beer and I'm worried that I've infected my beer (I've tried to keep everything as sanitised as possible but it's incredibly difficult!).

Also, It's been 8 days and it says my brew is 2.2%. I'm aiming for 4%. How long should I leave it until I do another reading?

NEVER get stressed when making beer...that stress makes its way into the final product...there are plenty of things in this world that produce stress..brewing beer should not be one of them...RDWHAHB

 

[MrHadack]

Not with all those bubbles it's not...

Wait for the bubbles to go, give the hydro a little spin to dislodge any bubbles stuck to it, then read it again. I think you'll come up with a different result.

Very true, but I was addressing the poster who was reading the hydrometer incorrectly and adding 10 points.

 

[nicklawmusic]

The yeast, for the person who asked, was just the little pack of dried yeast you get with the kit. No details other than that I'm afraid!

 

[LandoLincoln]

Will having the lid off my fermenting bucket and allowing air in whilst I took readings leave me open to contamination? I'm fermenting in my cellar?

Also, I'm a little concerned that I took my sample with a sanitised turkey baster. Do I need to keep resanitising it every time I dip it into the brew to get a sample? It took about 3 goes to get enough out and it kept dripping. Am worried about contamination!

Actually, I'm probably worried that the end of the baster touched the test jar which wasn't sanitised.

Am I paranoid?!

Yes, very. After a while you'll calm down and learn how to be vigilant about sanitation but not stressed out.

No, you don't need to resanitize the baster every time. It's a good idea to sanitize the top of the hydrometer tube, but the chances that you just infected your batch by touching it with the tip of the baster is very slim.

Think about it this way. You just made some wort, and it's down to a nice temperature, and a few dozen wild yeasts get into your wort from the air. And the wild yeasts are all, "This is AWESOME! Look at all this sugar we get to eat!"

And then A HUNDRED BILLION BEER YEASTS SHOW UP.

"Yeah, hey, how ya doin'? This is a nice bunch of sugary liquid you got here."

And the few dozen wild yeasts are all, "Well...we'd be happy to share it with you guys!"

And then the hundred billion beer yeasts are all, "That's a nice offer. Very generous. But instead of sharing it...we've decided that we are going to take it for ourselves, and you can just go over there in that corner and die quietly."

So once the beer yeasts really take off, it's even harder to infect the beer. There's a layer of CO2 that protects the beer and the alcohol helps protect it from bacteria. Yes, it's still very possible to infect a batch, but with a reasonable amount of caution, you'll be fine.

 

[Hello]

This isn't correct. See the red and the green sections on the hydrometer? Those indicate below 1.000 (red) and above 1.000 (green.) The thicker black line between the two colors is 1.000. So you can see the long line on the hydrometer UNDER the number indicates the level of that number. So Nick's reading is correct at around. 1.035

Oh you're right. Mine is slightly different, I believe. My bad.

 

[nicklawmusic]

So the long and short of it is my brew might not make it to 4% then?

 

[RM-MN]

So the long and short of it is my brew might not make it to 4% then?

Finding information on that kit was difficult but it appears that the OG would have been 1.040 at 23 liters, slighly more for your 21. Other brewers mentioned 4% alcohol. I find the lack of information about that kit suspicious since other kits are quite proud to put the OG right on their packaging. I also felt like this was a sup-par kit because of the amount of brown sugar added to bring up the alcohol instead of malt extract but the Brits who brewed seemed happy with it.

 

[nicklawmusic]

So why was my reading 1035? Is 005 points quite a lot by these standards?

 

[titansvol]

You should be fine, give it time.

 

[jtratcliff]

Very true, but I was addressing the poster who was reading the hydrometer incorrectly and adding 10 points.

Yeah, that's a whole 'nother problem altogether but not OP's problem.

 

[Homercidal]

So the long and short of it is my brew might not make it to 4% then?

It will be what it will be. It might not make it to 4%, but I've had some VERY tasty beer that was less than 4%. English Mild, session blonde, etc.

The lighter the beer in flavor, the more important your water flavor is, BTW.

 

[nicklawmusic]

Just did another reading today: 1.006 so my beer is 4.1%

Tasted good too!

Thanks for your help folks.

 

[Brewski221]

I have to say, i have read all six pages of comments on this thread and is by far the most entertaining one i have ever read. I remember when i first started brewing in general and remember that feeling nick was having. I belong to a lot of forums on various things and this one by far is the most helpful and VERY patient. Im glad your brew turned out good buddy . NOW DRINK IT!

Also wanted add....When you use the baster to take the sample and put it into your test jar, Over fill it a little bit. Then once your jar is full, use the baster to suck the bubbles out. You can do that a few times and get most all of them. Over filling will leave you enough to still take your reading. Also after you give the hydrometer a spin, make sure its not sticking to the side of the test jar. That has happened to me a few times causing a false reading.

 

[nicklawmusic]

Thanks for that advice. Everyone has been pretty nice to me. Just wanted to get it right. Has been a fun learning curve. Can't wait to bottle and do my next batch!

 

[RM-MN]

Thanks for that advice. Everyone has been pretty nice to me. Just wanted to get it right. Has been a fun learning curve. Can't wait to bottle and do my next batch!

What? You're going to wait to bottle before you start your next batch?

I only drink one bottle of beer per day but I've had 6 fermenters going at once this winter.

 

[nicklawmusic]

Haven't got the room to have multiple fermenters on the go!

 

[Brewski221]

Just do what I do. Make something that the wife really likes so she leaves you alone and then take over the dining room table with the rest of what you like . Poof! Instant brewery !

 

[andy6026]

You needn't re-sanitize the turkey baster with each dip into the wort... unless you accidentally drop it in the toilet in between each dip.