Festival - summer glory advice

[shd]

Also not sure if this is relevant, but I’ve just checked the box and it looks like the BBE date is 08 2024

 

[Stu's Brews]

Thanks for the reply again
Yes, my hydrometer looks to be fine (see attached photo)
I’ll have a look at some of the links you shared And pop the lid off and take a photo

If an airlock has run out of water, is that a possible way for what You have described to happen ?

I’ve had to top up the airlock a couple of times as it looked low, but I assume mistakenly pouring a minor amount of tapwater into the brew by accident wouldn’t cause this would it ?

A bit hard to tell from the picture but it looks to me like the hydrometer is reading less than 1.000 with water in it?

Also, what are you using to hold the sample? It looks to me like it might be the packaging tube for the hydrometer, which is causing it to stick to the sides which would skew the readings. If this is the case, you would be better off with something like this: https://www.themaltmiller.co.uk/product/plastic-trial-jar/

The airlock should really be filled with sanitiser rather than tap water. Your airlock should not be sucking water/sanitiser back into the fermenter though so there is a low risk of this causing infection compared to other things but it can't be completely ruled out.

Also not sure if this is relevant, but I’ve just checked the box and it looks like the BBE date is 08 2024

I don't think that would matter, but must admit I'm not familiar enough with kits to know if this would have an impact on the final gravity.

 

[shd]

@Stu's Brews

Here you go…

The hydrometer is showing 1000 for water
I’ve added a few photos of the top of the brew, the sample, lid etc

Looks like the gravity is actually 1004 by my eyes

Does the top of the brew look ok to you ?

I tasted it and although weak, doesn’t taste off by my taste buds

 

[Stu's Brews]

I agree with the 1.004 reading, so it's come in five gravity points lower than expected.

It doesn't look obviously infected to me - although I am assuming that is hop material that is floating on the surface.

If it tastes ok then you should be fine. I can't fully explain why it has finished at such a low gravity, might just be a quirk of that particular kit.

 

[shd]

Thanks for you input @Stu's Brews

I’ve just checked on https://www.hopsteiner.com/uk/abv-calculator/ and using the OG of 1042 and SG of 1004 it’s showing an ABV of 4.99% so right on the 5% mentioned on the outer box

Based on that I’m gonna bottle up

Thanks again

 

[shd]

Don't forget to put the little sock over the syphon inside the fermenter when you bottle or you will get hop bits in your beer. Apologies if I'm stating the blindingly obvious but I'd rather that that have anyone risk (possibly) mucking their beer up

Cheers Tom

@soupdragon - thanks for the reply
I have one of the traditional type of syphons (see attached) although the end won’t catch the smaller sediment I’m guessing

Are you suggesting a muslin type bag to wrap around the end also ?

 

[soupdragon]

@soupdragon - thanks for the reply
I have one of the traditional type of syphons (see attached) although the end won’t catch the smaller sediment I’m guessing

Are you suggesting a muslin type bag to wrap around the end also ?

Yep, there should have been one in the box At least they used to include one....

Cheers Tom

 

[shd]

Yep, there should have been one in the box At least they used to include one....

Cheers Tom

Thanks @soupdragon but nope, there wasn’t any bag/sock
The block on the end just restricts particles but without testing I’ve no idea just what size would make it through/be too large

 

[soupdragon]

Thanks @soupdragon but nope, there wasn’t any bag/sock
The block on the end just restricts particles but without testing I’ve no idea just what size would make it through/be too large

You could use one of the Aldi/Lidl veg bags. I use those for dry hopping, they work well and stop most of the bits

Cheers Tom