Testing the brew-results before kegging

[Locky]

Hi all very new to this brewing malarky so much fun.
First of many questions to come.....

The bubbles in the airlock have disappeared for 2 days now, so i took a hydrometer test. it was lower than i expected, it was 1.012 at 22 degrees. I am going to put the brew in a plastic barrel. will this finish off my brew and increase my gravity level after being stored for a few weeks?
I am concerned as i have had to take the lid off the fermenting bin, how do you normally take a test on a fermenting bin? just by extracting some brew through the air lock hole?
Im using youngs definitive lager, the cheap one as an experiment.
Any help is appreciated as i may barrel it tonight.
Thank you.

 

[Wez]

Hiya Locky welcome to THBF :thumb:

If this is a kit beer 1.012 is bang on right :thumb:

Add it to the keg (pressure barrel) with your priming sugars (either sugar or spray malt..spray malt best) and it'll get the yeast working again. 1.012 is your FG (final gravity) you wont make the beer stronger by adding priming sugars as they get used up giving you the condition you need in the beer in the form of c02.

With regard to taking readings, wait till the initial volitle head building ferment is over 24 - 48 hrs then drop your SANITISED hydrometer in the FV, it'll be fine and you can keep an eye on it. One tip tho, leave the beer alone - pitch yeast - snap on lid - 48 hrs - drop in hydrometer - wait another 7 or 8 days and take a look.

:thumb:

 

[Locky]

Fantastic thanks for the quick reply. yes it is a kit set.
I was quite concerned as i opened the fermenting bin and dont want to ruin the brew.
cheers.

 

[Wez]

None of us can resist a sneak peek

Best practice is to feck around with it as little as possible, that only because the less you mess with it the less chance you have on introducing an infection to an otherwise happy beer,

Sound like you have it bang on so we expect to hear how it turns out ... and pics would be good too, have a look in the snug, and see if you fancy trying the FECK test when it's ready :thumb: