What is my hydrometer saying?

[Pkrd]

Or you can just use OG-1, which for most beers is accurate enough for homebrewers.

1.060-1 = 0.06 = 6%

 

[balrog]

Ok, a couple recent batches shows (a) Brix2/3 is indeed Brix*Brix and Brix*Brix*Brix; and (b) you do not have to correct (a la Sean Terrill) final refractometer readings for presence of alcohol. I just used the raw refractometer readings.

1.006 FG, 6.0% Refract, eqn=>6.35; OG was 1.055 so I think ABV 6.56 (kindasortaclose-ish)
1.011 FG, 6.8% Refract, eqn=>5.69; OG was 1.054 so I think ABV 5.78 (closer-ish)

 

[RPh_Guy]

Forgive me, I'm brand new to brewing. I'm not sure what this means.

^^^^^^^
See how much we all love to teach?
All kinds of questions answered you didn't even ask!

I think I need to switch to a new yeast. I just bottled 90 bottles of banana beer. I'm not really a fan of bananas.

I'd say so. Unless you're using a German weissbier strain that is intentionally used for banana, banana ester indicates the fermentation temp is too high for whatever yeast you're using.


Pick a yeast whose optimal range fits your ambient... keeping in mind that fermentation generates heat and will be warmer than ambient temp.

Or you could use some method of keeping the fermentation cool. On a limited budget, "swamp coolers" are easy and effective. Either evaporative cooling (tray of water, t-shirt over the fermenter with the bottom in the water) or a water bath with occasional ice are good methods. Monitor the temperature, either way.

Cheers

 

[O-Ale-Yeah]

^^^^^^^
See how much we all love to teach?
All kinds of questions answered you didn't even ask!


I'd say so. Unless you're using a German weissbier strain that is intentionally used for banana, banana ester indicates the fermentation temp is too high for whatever yeast you're using.


Pick a yeast whose optimal range fits your ambient... keeping in mind that fermentation generates heat and will be warmer than ambient temp.

Or you could use some method of keeping the fermentation cool. On a limited budget, "swamp coolers" are easy and effective. Either evaporative cooling (tray of water, t-shirt over the fermenter with the bottom in the water) or a water bath with occasional ice are good methods. Monitor the temperature, either way.

Cheers

Yeah, I used a hefeweizen yeast. I like Weihenstephaner Hefeweizen so I thought I'd give it a shot but mine doesn't taste much like Weihenstephaner Hefeweizen.

 

[bracconiere]

Or you can just use OG-1, which for most beers is accurate enough for homebrewers.

1.060-1 = 0.06 = 6%

but i add gluco to all my beers...so it'd have to be (OG-1)+2,

 

[Lefou]

Yeah, I used a hefeweizen yeast. I like Weihenstephaner Hefeweizen so I thought I'd give it a shot but mine doesn't taste much like Weihenstephaner Hefeweizen.

It's a great beer when fresh but the banana should be restrained. Try to keep it cooler and go easy on the noble hops.

 

[Qhrumphf]

Hefes are an easy beer to brew but one of the hardest to master. And Weihenstephaner is the master of masters. Setting the bar very high.

 

[balrog]

Notes:They tend to roll when placed upon a horizontal surface and drop to the ground or in the sink, etc

Just re-reading this and wanted to point out to the new-ish brewer that hydrometers tend not only to roll, but to spontaneously lean into swinging cabinet doors, spontaneously secrete some nefarious frictionless substance when being carried over tile floors, and spontaneously leap with extreme prejudice toward granite countertops.

Sometimes all 3, simultaneously. Can be verified with high speed camera work.

 

[ncbrewer]

My proudest accomplishment as a brewer is that I've never broken a hydrometer in 11 years of brewing. It's nice to excel at something.

 

[Griffin495]

My proudest accomplishment as a brewer is that I've never broken a hydrometer in 11 years of brewing. It's nice to excel at something.

And you probably just jinxed yourself....

 

[Immocles]

My proudest accomplishment as a brewer is that I've never broken a hydrometer in 11 years of brewing. It's nice to excel at something.

It’s probably the superstitious baseball side of me, but the gods usually make a guy pay for those statements haha.


I’m extra careful myself but have definitely had those heart clenching slow motion moments.

 

[Qhrumphf]

My proudest accomplishment as a brewer is that I've never broken a hydrometer in 11 years of brewing. It's nice to excel at something.

 

[Qhrumphf]

Have to wonder what the average brewery has in the annual budget for hydrometer replacement.