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Best way to take a gravity reading

Discussion in 'Homebrewing' started by MCBanjoMike, Oct 29, 2014.

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  1. MCBanjoMike

    MCBanjoMike Initiate (0) Aug 7, 2014 Canada (QC)

    Here's a real newbie question for you. I've brewed four batches so far, but this latest one is my first using a new fermenting bucket that I bought recently. The bucket arrived with a lid that was drilled to accept an airlock directly, without using a bung. At first I thought that was really cool - one less thing to sanitize! But now it has been 10 days and I want to take a gravity measurement, and suddenly my wine thief won't fit through the small opening. I could take the whole top off, but wouldn't that expose the beer to a lot more air than if I just pulled the bung? This is a beer that I'm going to secondary for a few weeks, so one option would be to just take a gravity sample before transferring, and then another when I add my dry hops. What do you guys recommend as the best technique for avoiding oxidation when taking gravity samples?
     
    #1 MCBanjoMike, Oct 29, 2014
  2. JohnSnowNW

    JohnSnowNW Initiate (0) Feb 6, 2013 Minnesota

    You'll be fine taking the lid off to take a gravity sample, just replace it after you've purloined the necessary sample :wink:

    They'll be enough of a Co2 blanket, and you'll be transferring quickly enough, that it won't cause any issues.
     
    #2 JohnSnowNW, Oct 29, 2014
  3. GreenKrusty101

    GreenKrusty101 Initiate (0) Dec 4, 2008 Nevada

    Put a spigot on that bucket! :slight_smile:
     
    #3 GreenKrusty101, Oct 29, 2014
    ncstateplaya, jbakajust1 and HerbMeowing like this.
  4. scottakelly

    scottakelly Maven (1,487) May 9, 2007 Ohio

    Just take the lid off. It takes 10 seconds to take a gravity reading.
     
    #4 scottakelly, Oct 29, 2014
  5. inchrisin

    inchrisin Pooh-Bah (2,013) Sep 25, 2008 Indiana
    Pooh-Bah

    Grab `yer turkey baster! Get in and get out!
     
    #5 inchrisin, Oct 30, 2014
    bgjohnston likes this.
  6. DrMindbender

    DrMindbender Initiate (0) Jul 13, 2014 South Carolina

    Anybody else just sanitize a hydrometer and drop it in the primary bucket to get a reading? I usually do this first thing after putting brew in a keg to get my FG reading...then I cap the keg and carbonate it. Or do most folks thief a little and test in a tube/cylinder?
     
    #6 DrMindbender, Oct 30, 2014
    Ilanko likes this.
  7. VikeMan

    VikeMan Grand Pooh-Bah (3,055) Jul 12, 2009 Pennsylvania
    Pooh-Bah

    How do you get yourself "eye level" with the meniscus when it's below the top of a bucket? I don't use hydrometers a lot anymore, but it seeems like this would be difficult.
     
    #7 VikeMan, Oct 30, 2014
    bushycook likes this.
  8. MCBanjoMike

    MCBanjoMike Initiate (0) Aug 7, 2014 Canada (QC)

    I summoned up my courage and did this last night, and my gravity seems to be in a good place (the recipe actually doesn't give you a final gravity, but I'm down to 1.013 or so). Assuming that's close to final, and even though my original gravity wasn't where the kit said it should be, I should finish with a 6% ABV beer. That's a bit shy of the 7% you get in Two-Hearted, which is what I'm cloning, but I think I'll call it close enough. More importantly, I drank my hydrometer sample afterwards and I think this batch has potential! It might be the first time I make something that surpasses "drinkable" and makes it into "actually good" territory. This was the first time I've done a full-volume boil and my overall brewing technique has definitely improved since I started, hopefully the final product will live up to my impression from last night.
     
    #8 MCBanjoMike, Oct 30, 2014
  9. DrMindbender

    DrMindbender Initiate (0) Jul 13, 2014 South Carolina

    As a scientist, I've had plenty of experience reading fluid measurements...its really not an issue to get an accurate reading.
     
    #9 DrMindbender, Oct 30, 2014
  10. Ilanko

    Ilanko Initiate (0) Aug 3, 2012 New York

    After 5-6 days of fermentation I drop my hydrometer in to the bucket, when the action is slow down I leave it in all the way to the end of fermentation. When the figures around where it should be I wash and sensitize the hydrometer and do more accurate reading.
    That's way I abandon carboys and use buckets or big mouth bubblers , this way you can save 6-8oz of beer for every time you sample gravity.
     
    #10 Ilanko, Oct 31, 2014
  11. utahbeerdude

    utahbeerdude Maven (1,374) May 2, 2006 Utah

    Best way to take a gravity reading: use a refractometer. :sunglasses:
     
    #11 utahbeerdude, Nov 2, 2014
  12. flagmantho

    flagmantho Grand High Pooh-Bah (6,992) Feb 19, 2009 Washington
    BA4LYFE Society Pooh-Bah

    I've always had issues with my refractometer. I feel like it is difficult to read accurately while wearing eyeglasses.
     
    #12 flagmantho, Nov 2, 2014
  13. flagmantho

    flagmantho Grand High Pooh-Bah (6,992) Feb 19, 2009 Washington
    BA4LYFE Society Pooh-Bah

    a) This is the best part about taking hydrometer readings.
    b) Isn't it great when the beer has potential even before it is properly carbonated and at the correct temperature? It's like, I know this beer is only 70% as good as it is eventually going to be, and I can hardly wait for it to be fully ready.
     
    #13 flagmantho, Nov 2, 2014
    GreenKrusty101 likes this.
  14. VikeMan

    VikeMan Grand Pooh-Bah (3,055) Jul 12, 2009 Pennsylvania
    Pooh-Bah

    This is true. I take my glasses off to read mine. Luckily, my vision is good enough that I can make out the line okay.
     
    #14 VikeMan, Nov 3, 2014
  15. MCBanjoMike

    MCBanjoMike Initiate (0) Aug 7, 2014 Canada (QC)

    Honestly, this is the first time I've tasted a gravity sample and actually come away feeling pretty optimistic. In the past, it was more to reassure myself that I hadn't infected my beer by mistake - the actual drinking wasn't particularly enjoyable.

    I should get a refractometer, but I'm going to wait until one of the big online stores has a discount on them. I know for a while there you could get one free with a purchase of something like $75, so I'll wait until I see a comparable deal.
     
    #15 MCBanjoMike, Nov 3, 2014
    ncstateplaya likes this.
  16. wingnutter

    wingnutter Initiate (0) May 18, 2005 Florida

    I got a dual scale refractometer on eBay for around $28 shipped...2 batches in and it seems to be pretty accurate.
     
    #16 wingnutter, Nov 10, 2014
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