Simple Hydrometer Usage Instructions?

[McLompoc]

Been a while since I used mine. Couldn't find it and did my last 2 batches on the fly. Any simple rules I should be following? Been over 6 years since I last used it, and I know things have changed for sure.

Thanks in advance!

 

[amazinglarry]

They're pretty self explanatory. Just read the side for your gravity. The only thing is you have to adjust for temperature.

Also, toss whatever sample you take. Don't put it back in the beer.

 

[Desrever]

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GTvmYaQq6Mc]Hydrometer - detailed instructions - YouTube[/ame]

 

[Squirrels]

I argue about the tossing... I always sample mine!! It's a good forecast of what your brew was going to be like/

 

[McLompoc]

Awesome. Thanks! This is why I love this site!

 

[VladOfTrub]

Nope, nothing has changed. The SG of water is still one.

 

[BOBrob]

At my age I wear bifocals and must look down on it; but nothing has changed in the last 6 years.

 

[wailingguitar]

Give it a spin as you are placing it in the sample, this will drive off any bubbles that try to stick to it and potentially affect your reading. Also, if you are taking a sample of a fermenting beer (or beer that has has recently finished), you will want to degass it before reading. Pour the sample back and forth between two containers allowing it to foam up a good deal, then let it sit for a while until the foam subsides and you have flat beer. Dissolved gas in beer will give you a false low reading.

 

[NOISEpollution]

Pretty much everything that's been said is right. I use a turkey baster to transfer the beer to the test tube. It's a lot easier than sanitizing the whole siphon for that small amount of beer and it's a lot cleaner than trying to spoon it out.

I ALWAYS test my samples, even before I pitch for my OG reading. It's interesting to taste and see how the beer changes over time. After a few days of fermentation it should start to taste like beer. Just make sure you toss your samples because it cuts down on the risk of contamination big time.

 

[McLompoc]

I have a plastic turkey baster and a nice stainless steel one. Which would be best? My concern is the stainless steel would actually harbor more germs than the food grade plastic one.
And again, thanks for all the input from everyone. It will be nice to be able to give better updates on the red ale I am brewing tomorrow. Heading up to Docs Cellars in a few for my ingredients. Fresh is the best!

 

[NOISEpollution]

I have a plastic turkey baster and a nice stainless steel one. Which would be best? My concern is the stainless steel would actually harbor more germs than the food grade plastic one.
And again, thanks for all the input from everyone. It will be nice to be able to give better updates on the red ale I am brewing tomorrow. Heading up to Docs Cellars in a few for my ingredients. Fresh is the best!

I use a plastic one and that's what I'd recommend because it's clear so it's easier to tell if the inside is clean. Clean it immediately after every use so you don't get any build up in it. Before you use it, fill a bucket with some sanitizer solution and let it soak in there for a few minutes. Make sure you squeeze it when you put it in the solution to get the solution inside the baster as well.

The baster is probably going to be the only thing touching the beer during fermentation so sanitation is VERY important here.

 

[McLompoc]

I think I will stop and pick a new one up and dedicate it to the beer equipment only room! Thanks!

 

[Bobby_M]

Jesus... a 20 minute video on how to use hydrometer.

 

[dextryn]

It's hard to want to take so many samples. I feel like I'm just wasting my beer with how much needs to go in that stupid tube.

 

[NOISEpollution]

It's hard to want to take so many samples. I feel like I'm just wasting my beer with how much needs to go in that stupid tube.

Just take one reading before pitching, one after 10 days and one two days later. The last two will most likely match assuming you did everything right.

 

[plumbob]

I have a plastic turkey baster and a nice stainless steel one. Which would be best? My concern is the stainless steel would actually harbor more germs than the food grade plastic one.
And again, thanks for all the input from everyone. It will be nice to be able to give better updates on the red ale I am brewing tomorrow. Heading up to Docs Cellars in a few for my ingredients. Fresh is the best!

The stainless one can be boiled, so that is a plus if you really concerned. I wouldn't put the plastic in the dish washer ever though, the detergent will scour it and could give a home for some critter to live in. I'd give 99.9% that neither will give you and problems if properly sanitized however.

 

[weirdboy]

What I do is use a little taster glass which is shaped like a beer mug, sanitize the hell out of it and dip it into the fermenter to pull a sample. Obviously, this technique does not work for those of you fermenting in carboys. I used to use a turkey baster, but the volume I could get into the baster was never quite enough to get a good hydrometer sample, and I hate double-dipping. The taster glass always gets enough, and makes for a nice, convenient container to taste from after I've measured the gravity.

 

[McLompoc]

@weirdboy

I use glass carboys but would like to see what you use. Can you post a pic?

Thanks everyone!