Hydrometer reading - Could that reading be right?

[djchamberlain]

Hello All,

Last night brewed up a mini-mash/extract brew. First brew in 2 years. I moved here from America 2 years ago and last night was the first chance to get back into this lovely hobby... Anyway, back to the brew.. (see recipe details below) When I took the hydrometer reading I couldn't believe what I saw It read 1.096 - wow... first thing I thought was what did I do wrong? That seem very high for beer. There were no bubbles but there was a lot of sentiment. So just to be sure I strained it once but still got the same reading.

Any ideas of what I could have done? Am I really that rusty? Maybe the answer is in my recipe? (in US metrics sorry)

Thanks for any help!

David

Batch Size (Gallons): 5.00
Total Grain (lbs): 8.00
Wort Boil Time: 60 Minutes

Grain/Extract/Sugar

Amount Name
---------------------------------
5.3 lbs. Light DME Malt
2.0 lbs. Amber (Pale) Malt
0.7lbs. Crystal 55L

Hops

Amount Name Alpha IBU Boil Time
------------------------------------------------------
1.0 oz Fuggle 5.00 105.7 60 min.
0.5 oz Fuggle 5.00 105.7 40 min
0.3 oz Cascade 7.05 0 min

 

[Mark1964]

your finishing gravity should be anywhere from 1010 to 1000 what has been the fermenting temp how long in fv etc

 

[djchamberlain]

So it's totally out of whack then if it should have been between 1010 and 1000? Or are you saying that is what my next reading should be in a few weeks time? - I'll keep the fermenting temp around 18-20c

 

[Mark1964]

fermentation is finished when your hydrometer reads 1010 or 1000 or close to that. It shoud be a stable reading for a couple of days. Dont know what you mean a few weeks fermentation is usually finished 2 weeks maximum. Depends what the temp is.

 

[Mark1964]

1096 is past the bottling stage i should bottle it without hesitation

 

[djchamberlain]

Oh, I don't think you understand, that was my FIRST reading I took from the WORT. I only boiled it up last night and pitched the yeast. Fermentation just started at 10pm last night. Sorry if I confused you. that reading is my very first reading. Which is why I think I've messed it up.

 

[craigite]

1096 does sound high for beer.
Have you tested your hydrometer in plain water at the calibration temp, often 20degC?
I have a hydrometer where the paper scale in the glass is loose and I have to tap it every so often to correct it.

 

[Mark1964]

sometimes hydrometers have wine readings on too your not looking at the wine scale are you

 

[hairybiker]

1096 is past the bottling stage i should bottle it without hesitation

Nope 0096 is past the bottling stage and is common is very dry wines.

His OG was 1096 so high but what were you expecting?

You say the qts are in US does that include the 5 gals (i.e. about 4 gals UK?)

And as cragite says check your hydrometer in plain water @ the specified temp on it. (One of mine is 20C another is 15C)

 

[djchamberlain]

Thanks guys. Okay here is what I just did.

I tested the Hydrometer in plain water at the correct temp. Got 1000 - which I assume means there is no sugar/alcohol reading so good right?

Then I tempted fate and just decided to open the fermenter and take a sample again. It's only been less than 12 hours and fermentation only JUST started so I guess I'm pretty safe... maybe... Anyway took another reading and got better results. 1035 - so better I think. Still if memory serves me correctly OG readings are typically in the 1040 to 1050 range so I'm a bit low... Hmmm. This could mean that I'll end up with a weak beer (alcohol wise) if the FG reading is less than 1010.

Any final thoughts guys? Thanks for all the help.

David

 

[hairybiker]

If you are using safale-04 then it could have dropped from 1050-1035 overnight, just taste it when it is finished. And remember that beer wants to be made (and drunk : ). Just enjoy it and check more carefully next time.