Think I need some help here.

[stellamonster]

Hi,

Just got an early xmas present of a coopers starter kit and coopers lager, started it 5 days ago and had an og of 1021 and the foam on the krausen ring has subsided but when I take a hydrometer reading there is quite a bit of gass in it and the hydrometer sinks until no reading is showing way passed the 990 mark, is everything ok.
The initial temp at the start was 24c but it has dropped to 18c as temp control is a bit of a worry for me as its quite cold here in edinburgh, snowing actually, so looking to probably get a heat tray or something.
I think fermentation when ok as the was alot of frothing but as said its subsided quite a bit. Ive had a we slurp of it and it tastes not to bad so is everything ok, really need some help with this as I'm a complete newbie at this :hmm:

Cheers everyone

Any help would be much appreciated

Stellamonster (Daz)

 

[Runwell-Steve]

The first thing you need to do is test your hydrometer.

Put it in a sample of tap water at 20C, it should read 1000.

It sounds like your fermentation has been fine, but I'm not so sure about your hydrometer.

 

[SE10PAT]

sounds like the hydrometer may be duff mate? Pure water has a reading of 1000, so for it to be below that now you have added the ingredients seems a bit odd.

Also i'm no expert on Coopers lager but 1021 seems quite a low starting gravity. How much water did you add?

 

[calumscott]

+1 for the duff hydrometer.

1021 -> 990 gives you a just over 4% brew which must be about right for a standard lager kit.

 

[shearclass]

defo dodgy hydrometer. Luckily you can buy a new one for about £3.00, or otherwise i would complain about the new one you have received, as it should obviously be working.

 

[stellamonster]

sounds like the hydrometer may be duff mate? Pure water has a reading of 1000, so for it to be below that now you have added the ingredients seems a bit odd.

Also i'm no expert on Coopers lager but 1021 seems quite a low starting gravity. How much water did you add?

Hi, thanks for all the comments, and your bang on, just put the hydrometer in water at roughly 20c and it sank straight to the bottom, when I was making the wort up I used 4 litres of boiling water to dissolve the brew enhancer and brew kit cleaned the can out with a wee bit more then topped up with cold water to 23 litre mark.
I will be getting a new hydrometer tommoroz.

Thanks guys

Stellamonster (Daz)

 

[Runwell-Steve]

I would think if you look carefully at your hydrometer there will be a crack in at and it's letting in water.

They are notoriously fragile, especially if you only have one.

Buy two, they are really cheap, and you will never break one again.

Buy one and you will drop it just when you need it most.

 

[evanvine]

They are notoriously fragile, especially if you only have one.
Buy two, they are really cheap, and you will never break one again.
Buy one and you will drop it just when you need it most.

I do love cynics!

 

[stellamonster]

LOL....Got two ordered from the local home brew shop picking them up tommoroz, :party: along with a brew maker heat tray......its bloody freezing here.

 

[Dr. B]

Buy one and you will drop it just when you need it most.

I'm worried now - I have only ever owned one, and it's the one my dad used to brew with in the 70's!

 

[SE10PAT]

Buy one and you will drop it just when you need it most.

oh yes! :lol:

 

[cutnrun]

Buy two, they are really cheap, and you will never break one again.

Buy one and you will drop it just when you need it most.

been there done it.... about 20 min into a AG sparge....

the misses didn't really apreciate being told to get to Wilko's quick :wha:

still havent worked out why but i haven't done that again!

 

[SE10PAT]

I once managed to smash both my hydrometer, and thermometer, whilst vigourously shaking the fermenting bin with 5 litres of clening fluid in it :clap:

 

[earthwormgaz]

I once managed to smash both my hydrometer, and thermometer, whilst vigourously shaking the fermenting bin with 5 litres of clening fluid in it :clap:

I'll let that be a lesson to me, I must have come close to doing that!

 

[Cussword]

Coopers lager kits generally start at 1042/3 :thumb:

 

[Hawks]

I never broke a hydrometer until I ended up with two... needless to say that lasted about 6 months and now I am back to one

 

[stellamonster]

Coopers lager kits generally start at 1042/3 :thumb:

Got my hydrometer's today along with the brewmaker heat tray, took another reading earlier today( havent broken it yet) and its reading roughly around 1023,1021, its now been 6 days in the FV, should I bottle it or wait a wee bit longer.

Cheers

Daz

 

[Dave1970]

I'd give it a bit longer, you should be able to get it to go lower than that. Take another reading in a couple of days time, hopefully it will have dropped.

 

[stellamonster]

I'd give it a bit longer, you should be able to get it to go lower than that. Take another reading in a couple of days time, hopefully it will have dropped.

Cheers, will give it another couple of days :thumb:

 

[Dr. B]

I'd give it as long as it takes.
Go on the hydrometer and bubbles rather than the number of days.
My beers never take less than 12 days, and I keep the temp between 18 and 21degC.