What difference does it make if I took my reading after I pitched my yeast?

[PBR_59]

I am quickly approaching 2 weeks and think I will be able to bottle my IPA on Monday. Of course I will take a reading over a few days to see if there is any change or not before doing so. When trying to figure out the alcohol content what corrections if any will I have to make because I took my initial reading after pitching my yeast? Will you get a different reading after pitching yeast?

 

[Taliesin]

If you pitched a smack pack, I can't imagine it makes enough of a difference. if you pitched an entire 1 quart starter, I STILL can't imagine it makes that much of a difference in gravity, since the starter was probably something like 1.048 or so. If you decanted, little to no difference.

But I am probably wrong. :-D

 

[nbolmer]

I am quickly approaching 2 weeks and think I will be able to bottle my IPA on Monday. Of course I will take a reading over a few days to see if there is any change or not before doing so. When trying to figure out the alcohol content what corrections if any will I have to make because I took my initial reading after pitching my yeast? Will you get a different reading after pitching yeast?

Do you mean immediately after pitching? Don't worry about it.

 

[TyTanium]

If you pitched a smack pack, I can't imagine it makes enough of a difference. if you pitched an entire 1 quart starter, I STILL can't imagine it makes that much of a difference in gravity, since the starter was probably something like 1.048 or so. If you decanted, little to no difference.

But I am probably wrong. :-D

Nope, you're right. For the 1qt starter, it does change the gravity (only slightly), but since you're using the change in gravity to estimate ABV, you want to measure it post-dilution, otherwise your ABV calc will be off.

 

[brewit2it]

I am quickly approaching 2 weeks and think I will be able to bottle my IPA on Monday. Of course I will take a reading over a few days to see if there is any change or not before doing so. When trying to figure out the alcohol content what corrections if any will I have to make because I took my initial reading after pitching my yeast? Will you get a different reading after pitching yeast?

If you wait long enough after pitching yeast you will get a different reading obviously:cross:

The yeast itself is a mixture in suspension, not dissolved so will have no impact on the gravity of the soln, other than the volume of water or wort you add along with it, as others have already pointed out.

 

[PBR_59]

I did pitch immediately. I did not make a starter. It was a vile of liquid yeast (White Labs). WLAN P008. Shop owner told me it is a Sam Adams yeast.

 

[PBR_59]

Thanks for the input.