Best tool for removing wort from Carboy for gravity sample

Discussion in 'Homebrewing' started by DVoors, Aug 21, 2014.

Thread Status:
Not open for further replies.
  1. DVoors

    DVoors Zealot (627) Jan 6, 2014 Indiana

    I am fairly new to homebrewing, and in the past, when I've needed to remove a sample from my carboys for a gravity reading, I've had to pick up the carboy, carefully pour it into a glass, subsequently pour that into my hydrometer jar, and then take the reading. Given that I use 6.5 (and sometimes 5) gallon carboys, this obviously is not the most safe, effective, or efficient way to remove the sample. In addition, it can be messy and I usually end up taking more beer out than I need for the hydrometer reading. As such, I've been looking online for different solutions to this problem, and I'm wondering what tools fellow beer advocate homebrewers find to be the best. I've seen different long stainless steel turkey basters that seem to receive okay reviews, but they are apparently harder to clean and sanitize. I've also seen several different versions of "beer thief" and "wine thiefs"
     
    #1 DVoors, Aug 21, 2014
  2. PINOT8

    PINOT8 Initiate (0) Nov 2, 2013 Canada (ON)

    Turkey baster
    No sanitation issue so far. Been using the same dollar store one for years.
    I just rinse it after a soak it before.
     
    #2 PINOT8, Aug 21, 2014
    inchrisin and CurtFromHershey like this.
  3. koopa

    koopa Initiate (0) Apr 20, 2008 New Jersey

    Wine thief all the way....
     
    #3 koopa, Aug 21, 2014
    Adirondack47 likes this.
  4. AlCaponeJunior

    AlCaponeJunior Grand Pooh-Bah (3,452) May 21, 2010 Texas
    Society Pooh-Bah

    try to use the power of your mind to osmosis beer thru the glass into your graduated cylinder.

    or just get a wine thief.
     
    #4 AlCaponeJunior, Aug 22, 2014
    Jmitchell3 likes this.
  5. VikeMan

    VikeMan Grand Pooh-Bah (3,067) Jul 12, 2009 Pennsylvania
    Pooh-Bah

    I use a wine thief and it works very well. Though I don't use it often because I usually use a refractometer instead of a hydrometer. A couple drops dripped from the tip of the thermowell (that's has already been sitting in the beer) is all it takes.
     
    #5 VikeMan, Aug 22, 2014
  6. premierpro

    premierpro Savant (1,060) Mar 21, 2009 Michigan

    I use a turkey baster. I like to drink my hydrometer samples.
     
    #6 premierpro, Aug 22, 2014
    ronobvious2 and alanforbeer like this.
Thread Status:
Not open for further replies.