hydrometer reading

[linearcraig]

I've taken my first hydrometer testing to check the fermentation has finished, I'll do another in 2 days.

I started off with 1.042 and I've come out with 1.016 corrected to 1.014 (I took a reading of water at the calibration of 20c and it was .002 out.) I know you shouldn't bottle until under 1.010.

Any advice on this.

 

[jonewer]

How long has it been fermenting for?

1.014 is perhaps a bit high but that depends on what you're brewing...... Best see if its stable over a period of several days to see if its finished. I normally leave mine for 2 weeks before I think about bottling or kegging.

 

[linearcraig]

Its a cooper original lager.

thats it been in for 10 days.

I know I shouldn't rely on the airlock thus the reason i'm doing hydrometer tests but I havn't seen a single bubble come out of the airlock in days.

I used brew enhancer and I know that can lower the abv ever so slightly but would it show at this point?

 

[jonewer]

I would expect a lager to finish a bit lower. Maybe leave it a bit longer.

 

[alawlor66430]

It will most likely go down a bit so maybe check it over the next 4 days to see if it budges. Then when it is finished give it another few days for good measure

 

[linearcraig]

If it hasn't will it still be ok to bottle?

 

[alawlor66430]

What temp is it at, I had one stuck at 1,012 so up'd the temp a few degrees and got it down to 1.008 over the following few days so give that a go first, cos if a bit extra heat is all it needs priming and putting it somewhere warm might end up with over carbonation if you get what I mean, so try it warmer for a few days then if still no change then bottle it :-)

 

[linearcraig]

I started it at 24/5 then dropped it down. Was just a hot start. first week was 18-21 then I've let it creep up once it calmed down.

Sitting at about 20/22 just now. I'll test it on friday and then on sunday.

If its the same I should be safe to bottle? I'll just end up with a weaker beer?

 

[linearcraig]

I did take a hydro reading when it was at 21 by accident then proceeded to smash my hydro before adding about 1-2 litres more water to get the temp and volume right. How much would adding 1-2 litres of water affect the hydro reading?

 

[bunkerbrewer]

I did take a hydro reading when it was at 21 by accident then proceeded to smash my hydro before adding about 1-2 litres more water to get the temp and volume right. How much would adding 1-2 litres of water affect the hydro reading?

What was the original volume? If you know this you can work out the altered gravity using the formula (volume 1 * SG 1) = (volume 2 * SG 2) where specific gravity is in "gravity points" - e.g. 1.042 = 42.

So if you started with 19L at 1.042 and added 2L of water: (19 * 42) = (21 * new SG).

Rearranging that gives: new SG = (19 * 42) / 21 = 38; so the diluted wort has a gravity of 1.038.

 

[alawlor66430]

I did take a hydro reading when it was at 21 by accident then proceeded to smash my hydro before adding about 1-2 litres more water to get the temp and volume right. How much would adding 1-2 litres of water affect the hydro reading?

What was the original volume? If you know this you can work out the altered gravity using the formula (volume 1 * SG 1) = (volume 2 * SG 2) where specific gravity is in "gravity points" - e.g. 1.042 = 42.

So if you started with 19L at 1.042 and added 2L of water: (19 * 42) = (21 * new SG).

Rearranging that gives: new SG = (19 * 42) / 21 = 38; so the diluted wort has a gravity of 1.038.

This is why I love this forum, so many clever dudes on here :-D

 

[linearcraig]

That's bringing my abv out at 3.15-3.5 what could have caused this to end up so low.

 

[linearcraig]

I used only brew enhancer would that cause a low fg