When to measure gravities

[JLubbert]

Hello Everyone:

I am new to this and i am trying to understand the process the best i can.

First of all, when do you guys measure OG? Just when the beer cooled off? if u do it this way, and you are a bit higher, how can you tell how much water to add?

Second of all, i noticed a lot of people stopped fermenting when they hit final gravity... If you do so, how do you get this gravities? y have a fermenter that is similar to a carboy so it is very hard to get a sample perfectly.

Third, do you use refractometer or an hydrometer? I am asking because everytime i make a hydrometer reading i use at least 200 cc (or 7 ounces) of liquid and if you do it several times is such a waist and it hurts so bad...

So that's it.

Greetings from Chile!

 

[dpittard]

1. OG is measured right before pitching the yeast. If you are higher than expected, you could add water. For the record, I would probably just leave it unless if have less than desired in my fermenter.

2. Use a wine thief or turkey baster to pull a sample.

3. Most, including myself, use a hydrometer. They are cheaper. I only pull two samples, usually. An OG and maybe a FG if I feel like the beer isn't done.

 

[C-Rider]

1. OG is measured right before pitching the yeast. If you are higher than expected, you could add water. For the record, I would probably just leave it unless if have less than desired in my fermenter.

2. Use a wine thief or turkey baster to pull a sample.

3. Most, including myself, use a hydrometer. They are cheaper. I only pull two samples, usually. An OG and maybe a FG if I feel like the beer isn't done.

I use a refractometer. Yea it cost abuot $56 bucks, but only uses drops of wort. I measure the pre=boil and the post boil using it. I've noticed BIG difference the longer I wait to take the reading after the wort is place on the meter. I really goes up by the second as it cools.

 

[dpittard]

I should also say I drink the sample afterwards, so it never goes to waste!

 

[JLubbert]

I should also say I drink the sample afterwards, so it never goes to waste!

xD thanks for the reply xD!!

Hey c-Rider: so this change is because the temperature changes? can you make acurate readings with a refractometer?

regards

 

[dougdecinces]

If you do all grain, what I do is take 4-6 ounces from my runnings and quickly stash them in the freezer. After about 15-20 minutes, it's down to 60-something degrees. Then I can take a hydrometer reading to figure out my pre-boil gravity so I know how efficient my mash was. Usually I'm pretty consistent, but if you're off one way or the other you can add DME or increase the final volume to compensate.

 

[C-Rider]

xD thanks for the reply xD!!

Hey c-Rider: so this change is because the temperature changes? can you make acurate readings with a refractometer?

regards

I believe refractometers are calebrated for 60* F. So a drop of hot wort at say 156* will give you a reading. But wait say 45 sec and it's cooled closer to what ever you room temp is and you'll get a higher reading. I believe that higher reading is most accurate.

You put a few drops of plain water on it to check for zero reading.

What say you other users?