quick question

[mikerock]

Hey guys. I took an initial reading and that was around 10% potential alcohol. Took a reading today (a week later) and the potential alcohol is less than 5%. Is that normal or did something go wrong?

 

[unionrdr]

You're reading the wrong scale on the hydrometer. You read the scale that looks kinda like a thermometer to get the specific gravity.

 

[kh54s10]

Ignore the potential alcohol scale on your hydrometer. Take your OG then wait until you get FG and plug the numbers into an online ABV calculator. Just google it you should find several.

And yes that is normal. The yeast are eating the sugars thus lowering the specific gravity of the wort.

 

[mikerock]

Ok thanks for the help guys