Taking the specific gravity reading

[Kronos]

When taking the specific gravity is it ok to place the hydrometer directly into the fermenting bin rather than having to syphon the wort into a hydrometer jar.

 

[Slid]

When taking the specific gravity is it ok to place the hydrometer directly into the fermenting bin rather than having to syphon the wort into a hydrometer jar.

Yes, but try and sterilise the hydrometer first.

If the beer is still fermenting, there will be bubbles of CO2 forming on it and giving a high reading on the hydrometer,

You want to leave any beer for 2 weeks in the FV, so why not wait until then.

 

[chub1]

When taking the specific gravity is it ok to place the hydrometer directly into the fermenting bin rather than having to syphon the wort into a hydrometer jar.

get yourself a turkey baster, Wilko's at present are doing two for a quid:thumb:
Just sterelise it, draw your wort up, squirt it into your trial jar
easy peasy:mrgreen:

 

[terrym]

Yes, but try and sterilise the hydrometer first.

If the beer is still fermenting, there will be bubbles of CO2 forming on it and giving a high reading on the hydrometer,

You want to leave any beer for 2 weeks in the FV, so why not wait until then.

+1 on that.
You can usually remove any bubbles sticking to the hydrometer by spinning the it before taking the reading.
Personally I can't be bothered with fiddling about with trial jars etc, I just dunk a sanitised hydrometer into the FV to take my SG readings.

 

[Hoppyland]

Yep, hydrometer in the FV is what I do. OK, you'll be looking at it on an angle & having to guess where the meniscus begins & ends, so it won't be as accurate - but does that matter?
Also, if the beer is still actively fermenting and producing bubbles, why would I want to take a hydrometer reading?

 

[zippy40]

I use a 50ml cath tip sterile syringe (I am a nurse lol). I don't need to sterilise - just use the same aseptic technique I use in work and presto - no possibility of introducing infection to the brew at all :)

You can get sterile syringes from a supplier for next to nothing.

 

[Brett74]

If you guys don't use trial jars, what do you drink when taking SG's?

 

[Kronos]

I did not think you could drink it at that stage.

 

[Hoppyland]

I did not think you could drink it at that stage.

Of course you can. Great cure for constipation! :)

 

[JapanBrew]

I did not think you could drink it at that stage.

I drink all my samples. However recently I use a refractometer. Only needs a few drops. So I have to find a reason to pull 50 ml off!

 

[H0PM0NSTER]

+1 for sample tasting. I drink every trial jar - even the unfermented wort from the OG reading. Even at that stage you can tell a lot about the potential of a brew.

 

[BeerisGOD]

When taking the specific gravity is it ok to place the hydrometer directly into the fermenting bin rather than having to syphon the wort into a hydrometer jar.

this can depend on the lie of beer too. like if theirs too much hop debris it can be hard to tell the exact figure.
like the beer I've just done had too much hops floating so I knew the jar and wine thief were the best option

 

[Kronos]

Does anyone use a refractometer, I see them on eBay for as little as £12.00, are they any good.

 

[geetee]

Does anyone use a refractometer, I see them on eBay for as little as �£12.00, are they any good.

They are good for getting the gravity of wort as sparging proceeds but needs correction once the wort is fermented and has alcohol present.

 

[Kronos]

They are good for getting the gravity of wort as sparging proceeds but needs correction once the wort is fermented and has alcohol present.

Can they be used for testing the OG and FG of a beer kit.

 

[JapanBrew]

Can they be used for testing the OG and FG of a beer kit.

Yes, but like Geetee said, you have to use a conversion to get the right reading. Refractometer reading is distorted with alcohol. There are a ton of online calculators to do this.

 

[Kronos]

For kits is it best to stick with a standard hydrometer.