Taking a sample for checking gravity

[terrym]

Silly question but what search term to people use on eBay to find them. I used a 250ml glass measuring cylinder, but half pint is a fair bit of wastage and my 100ml one isn't deep enough. Looked on home brew sites, but I've ordered loads recently and often the postage adds up if you just want a small item.

I don't bother with sampling jar/cylinder, especially since my FVs don't have taps. I just lower the (sanitised) hydrometer into the brew, take the reading, then optionally take it out. Good enough for me.

 

[Global33]

I did that with my Ginger Beer as it's only 5L and quite easy and cheap to make a batch... Got nervous with my first beer as I'd be gutted if 40 pints went bad. I'm probably still missing loads of times it could be infected.

Anyway, should have just checked Amazon as I've got Prime so free next day delivery. Will have to remember them for other home brew stuff.

 

[Bigcol49]

. . . my 100ml one isn't deep enough.

Hi!
Tempted to say, "Oooh! Matron!" :grin:
Perhaps your hydrometer is quite a large one.
My Wilko's 100ml plastic sample thingy is perfect for their own hydrometer.

 

[Sadfield]

I have stainless steel ball valves on my FVs, they are easy to clean in situ with a small bottle brush, and also easy to remove, clean and replace.

I have never really understood why people discourage the use of taps by posting pictures of dismantled mouldy taps, if you can take it apart to take a photo of mould, then you can also take it apart to clean it, so they're just advertising their poor sanitation regime.

Removing the lid of an FV and dunking a turkey baster, ladle or hydrometer into your FV is also not a risk free method. I would suspect that many of the infection and pellicle threads on homebrew forums would prove this point, particularly from new brewers, keen to monitor their brews. Horses for courses, but you're unlikely to get any airborne contaminants entering your FV via a tap.



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[Druncan]

Yup, agree with sadfield. Got four 30l spiedel cider FV's with taps. Sealed system in operation to reduce contamination. Easy to dispense and dismantle for cleaning. I even starsan spray the nozzle before dispensing. Simples is best!

 

[geetee]

Ever since I started brewing I have always taken a sample with a small 200ml glass, first I fill it with boiling water, swill the outside and then scald my fingers pouring it out. The FV is in the fridge so I push the lid back and holding the glass by thumb and forefinger dip it in and half fill approx taking care to keep fingers out and then putting the lid straight back on.

In 10 years never once had an infection so must be OK!

 

[Sadfield]

Ever since I started brewing I have always taken a sample with a small 200ml glass, first I fill it with boiling water, swill the outside and then scald my fingers pouring it out. The FV is in the fridge so I push the lid back and holding the glass by thumb and forefinger dip it in and half fill approx taking care to keep fingers out and then putting the lid straight back on.

In 10 years never once had an infection so must be OK!

The original question was, Is there a better way? Yes. You don't scald your fingers using a tap. [emoji3]

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[geetee]

The original question was, Is there a better way? Yes. You don't scald your fingers using a tap. [emoji3]

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Since I have several FV's I would need to install a tap on every one just for taking a sample that has never caused me a problem. So the answer as far as I am concerned is no, my way works for me without all the hassle of a tap.

If I am a bit less impatient and waited about 30 seconds the finger scalding doesn't happen anyway.

 

[Bigcol49]

Hi!
Speaking as a long-time No-Tapper, I think that shiny Spiedels and stainless steel taps are the works of the Devil and must be abhored.

:mrgreen:

 

[LarryF]

Always used a tap, never had a problem, I take an OG reading just before pitching the yeast and then wipe and spray the tap. These days it gets two weeks in the FV and I take a FG reading while I'm bottling for my records. I always clean the tap thoroughly with Oxy, hot water and then submerge in sanitizer. My pet hate is the little piece of plastic at the bottom of my bottling wand, the piece that contacts the bottle. When I take my bottling wand apart this has a tiny hole in it where crud can gather so I wash this out immediately after bottling. For the job it does it should be solid with no little hiding place for nasties.

 

[TheQuokka]

While I have used FVs with taps for years without a problem, I bought an "easy-syphon" to use with my Cooper's FV and crashing vessel, though I find it a pain in the butt to sanitise. To take samples, I sanitise a bit of tubing and my thumb in a phosphoric sanitiser.

 

[Godfather50]

I don't take a sample. I sanitise my hydrometer and float it in the beer. I take a photo of it floating with my iPad camera, cos I don't see to well. That way I can study it at my leisure. I remove wash and dry the hydrometer for next time.

 

[Dutto]

........... if you can take it apart to take a photo of mould, then you can also take it apart to clean it, ..............

Please let me know exactly how I can dismantle, clean and replace a tap that is in service. :thumb:

 

[terrym]

I don't take a sample. I sanitise my hydrometer and float it in the beer. I remove wash and dry the hydrometer for next time.

I am not alone then :thumb:
Nor have I succumbed to an 'infection', well, not of the brewing sort anyway:-o

 

[Mjh]

Please let me know exactly how I can dismantle, clean and replace a tap that is in service. :thumb:

Same way as you clean the rest of your fv while it is in service.

 

[dad_of_jon]

I've bought a 100ml syringe. I only take 2 readings one before pitching and one before bottling. Then based on 2.5 years of experience adjust the priming sugar amount based on recipe yeast used etc.

I've safely bottled up to 1.019 in conjunction with a plastic carb tester bottle :thumb:

 

[Sadfield]

Please let me know exactly how I can dismantle, clean and replace a tap that is in service. :thumb:

Ha ha, What? Do you not clean your equipment between ferments? A properly cleaned and sanitised tap will not go rank during fermentation, in the same way the rest of the fv doesn't. Likewise, the bottle bucket tap in the photo would have only gone mouldy if it wasn't cleaned properly after the last bottling session, not during it.

Either method of taking samples works, yet still have inherent risk of infection. However, diligence in sanitaton will remove that risk in the case of using a tap.


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[TheQuokka]

Assembling the tap while still wet with StarSan type solution helps as well, and using food grade lubricant.

I question the practice of leaving the hydrometer floating in the wort, as apart from being hard to read, it will be highly inaccurate due to yeast, trub and bubbles collecting on it.

 

[LarryF]

I've bought a 100ml syringe. I only take 2 readings one before pitching and one before bottling. Then based on 2.5 years of experience adjust the priming sugar amount based on recipe yeast used etc.

I've safely bottled up to 1.019 in conjunction with a plastic carb tester bottle :thumb:

Brilliant idea dad, adjusting your priming levels in conjunction with your FG level. I've never heard of that before or even considered it, what a fantastic way to avoid bottle bombs or gushers.:thumb:

 

[Bigjas]

I've bought a 100ml syringe. I only take 2 readings one before pitching and one before bottling. Then based on 2.5 years of experience adjust the priming sugar amount based on recipe yeast used etc.

I've safely bottled up to 1.019 in conjunction with a plastic carb tester bottle :thumb:

I like the idea of a 100ml syringe. I have been using a wine thief but think a syringe would be easier.