Refractometer Samples

[BeardedBrews]

Hey Guys, quick question on Refractometer technique for BIAB:

Since I am regularly stirring my mash, and generally let hops/trub/break material fly all over my boil, I have a really hard time pulling a refractometer sample that isn't full of chunks.

Do you guys have a secret technique for this? Should I be pulling out a shot glass and letting it settle before droppering out the sample?


Thanks!

-B

 

[enkamania]

I used to put a paint strainer bag over my shot glass. I found a small hand held strainer which I now use

 

[pricelessbrewing]

Nope. I just take a sample with a spoon.

 

[Leezer]

I also take samples with a spoon, seems to work well.

 

[Derp]

Here's a question that I hope someone might be able to answer:

I just finished brewing 10 gallons of an English bitter and I came in at 1.035/1.040 pre/post-boil instead of Beersmith's predicted 1.038/1.046. I'm still trying to figure out my system's efficiency and I know my cheap refractometer isn't perfect, so perhaps the measurements were accurate. But I got thinking about the fact that it was 95 degrees in my garage, so my refractometer would have been the same temperature. I did some reading and saw that the cheap temperature compensated units are good to 86 degrees, but I don't know how to adjust my readings for 95 degrees. Is there a calculator out there? Is it even possible that a warm refractometer could throw off the readings 3-6 points?

I have a fancy new Brewometer that I'll chuck in once it's down to pitching temp. Maybe that'll give me a good reading.