SG Rising

[Benfleet Brewery]

Hi. I am so confused. Is it possible for the SG of a beer in a primary FV to go down then rise again? My IPA started at 1.040 on 4th May. Subsequent readings have been: 1.016 on 10th May, 1.008 on 14th May, 1.010 on 17th May, 1.102 on 19th May (today)?

 

[foxbat]

1.102 on 19th May (today)?

Do you want to correct that typo? It's definitely not reading 1.102.

 

[kelper]

To jump in before Clint, your hydrometer is upside down!

 

[An Ankoù]

No it's not possible for the gravity to increase as alcohol is less dense than water, but if you take a second reading when the temperature is considerably lower than your first reading, then the reading can be higher.

 

[The Baron]

Do the old hydrometer check sounds to me as if the paper scale may have slipped inside the glass.

 

[Benfleet Brewery]

Hi. I am so confused. Is it possible for the SG of a beer in a primary FV to go down then rise again? My IPA started at 1.040 on 4th May. Subsequent readings have been: 1.016 on 10th May, 1.008 on 14th May, 1.010 on 17th May, 1.102 on 19th May (today)?

CORRECTION: reading on 19th May is 1.012

 

[Benfleet Brewery]

The brew is in a brew fridge at a constant 20 degrees. Let me check the hydrometer!

 

[Benfleet Brewery]

Ok, good shout. Tap water is coming in at 0.996!!

 

[Drunkula]

Tap water is coming in at 0.996!!

I had the paper slip in one of my hydrometers and managed to hold the base and slam my one hand into the palm of my other until it got back in place.

 

[Benfleet Brewery]

Thanks everyone. I think I’ve solved the issue. I’ve been measuring the SG using the tiny plastic tube the hydrometer came in as a trial jar. The instructions said I could. Using this today water looks clearly at 0.996 and my brew was clearly 1.012. The hydrometer shows spot on 1.000 for water in a tall pint glass. It now seems obvious the hydrometer is sticking to the side of my make shift jar and no amount of spinning it etc gives an accurate reading. The OG reading is always taken in the FV before I pitch the yeast. After that I tap into the hydrometer tube. I’ll need to get a proper jar for these readings I think.

 

[Benfleet Brewery]

Thanks everyone. I think I’ve solved the issue. I’ve been measuring the SG using the tiny plastic tube the hydrometer came in as a trial jar. The instructions said I could. Using this today water looks clearly at 0.996 and my brew was clearly 1.012. The hydrometer shows spot on 1.000 for water in a tall pint glass. It now seems obvious the hydrometer is sticking to the side of my make shift jar and no amount of spinning it etc gives an accurate reading. The OG reading is always taken in the FV before I pitch the yeast. After that I tap into the hydrometer tube. I’ll need to get a proper jar for these readings I think.

 

[The Baron]

Well done mate usually a simple solution to most problems

 

[kelper]

I must try that. I have the plastic tube my hydrometer came in plus a glass measuring cylinder. Will post result tomorrow.

 

[Drunkula]

It works in the tubes I have but you have to get them perfectly upright and flick them so no bubbles stick to the sides. Some hydrometer tubes are a bit wider like the ones in Wilco and they have a bit of sponge holding the hydrometer in place to stop them crashing about.

 

[Benfleet Brewery]

I’ve just ordered a 100ml glass one from fleabay.

 

[matt76]

It works in the tubes I have but you have to get them perfectly upright and flick them so no bubbles stick to the sides. Some hydrometer tubes are a bit wider like the ones in Wilco and they have a bit of sponge holding the hydrometer in place to stop them crashing about.

Spin it.

Give it a good old twizzle in the trial jar, that'll fling the bubbles off

 

[Drunkula]

Give it a good old twizzle in the trial jar, that'll fling the bubbles off

Sadly doesn't work with the super skinny tubes - there's basically bubbles that get trapped underneath you have to let them move up, like people squeezing past you to get to their seats at the cinema.

I usually just throw a hydrometer into the fermenter and leave it there and guesstimate how much the gunk on it has changed the reading.

I've got a real trial jar - it's got Homepride flour men on it and I got it for 15p from a jumble sale. It makes me smile.

 

[kelper]

My hydrometer reads the same in a glass trial jar and the 'orrible plastic thing it came in.

 

[Benfleet Brewery]

I gave it another go last night. As soon as there's any liquid put in there the Hydrometer just clings to the sides of the plastic tube like the shower curtain does to me as soon as I turn the shower on!! I did mange to get some sort of accuracy (I think) after a while of trying to balance it all so the thing was away from the sides but it was a bit of a faff.

 

[Benfleet Brewery]

Sadly doesn't work with the super skinny tubes - there's basically bubbles that get trapped underneath you have to let them move up, like people squeezing past you to get to their seats at the cinema.

I usually just throw a hydrometer into the fermenter and leave it there and guesstimate how much the gunk on it has changed the reading.

I've got a real trial jar - it's got Homepride flour men on it and I got it for 15p from a jumble sale. It makes me smile.

I checked the OG by dropping the Hydrometer in the FV before pitching the yeast. I suppose I could actually have just dropped it straight in again when I dry hopped and left it in there just to check nothing has moved a couple of days later when I go to bottle. Saves a few trial jars of beer going to waste too!