How to Use a Hydrometer for Homebrewing
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 6 ต.ค. 2024
- How to read a hydrometer can be one of the most confusing topics for new home brewers. We will show you how to use and read a hydrometer to determine the original gravity, final gravity, and finally the ABV of your homebrew.
Need a hydrometer? Check out what we have to offer at Northern Brewer. www.northernbr...
Now this is how you do an instructional video ... short and to the point!!! Cheers
In the middle of my 1st batch of stout here. Many thanks for the videos! Being a "Visual learner," this makes 10 x more sense!
A beer nerd well I am more then happy to wear that title. Most rewarding hobby I have ever taken up! Started Early January this year. Thanks for the video
The brew masters at Northern are like my Beer sherpa's. I'd be lost with out them...THANK YOU!
I just bought my first hydrometer though I've been making wine off and on for over twenty years.I just thought it was time I got really in to making really good wines. Thanks for the clip.
Hey Dave hows tricks
I always chug my sample down never Discard it thats a rookie mistake!!!!!
Absolutely true..you get an idea of how sweet the wort is.
@@oldrikky I'm just making some asian rice wine at home and yup, I always drink my samples.
You have to taste or chug the sample, you will learn a lot from it.
Its always interesting to sense the change over the course of fermentation
If it's a Saturday morning, I put it back everything is sanitized. If its later in the day I drink it 🤗 cheers
They just don't look nerdy, they ARE nerdy. Great explanation. Awesome detail.
They are nerdy but the reason I use one is because I can't be drinking my homemade stuff without knowing what the ABV is and thus knowing what I am drinking. I don't want to become an alcoholic! I always keep a close eye on exactly what I'm drinking.
I found this super helpful im not a beer nerd but I am a home distiller which basicly uses the same process just with an extra step at the end which is running your brew or wash through the still twice to get it up to around 94 to 95%
Glad to help!
Actually using a hydrometer for apple wine but your video is so clear and concise I think I got the grasp of it thank you =] thumbs up good sir
Stunning! An explanation of a hydrometer without telling us how to read it.
this was very awesome explanation but I agree with the others who recommended to drink the sample!
Very good and funny videos bring a great sense of entertainment!
You can drink your sample instead of throwing it down the sink. It might not taste the best, but it helps understand how the wort/beer changes as the yeast do their thing.
Nice video, EXCEPT that you neglected to explain how to accurately calculate ABV:
(O.G. - F.G.) x 131 = ABV%
But this information is readily available in the literature included in most home brewing starter kits so no big deal, just wanted to clear that up for your viewers!
i've seen that formula before, but do you know why the "x 131" part? why 131?
..Or you could just go online to a hydrometer calculator & enter your before & after readings there & let it do all the work ;)
Very nice, I like this orientation
@@8bitbeatbox _"i've seen that formula before, but do you know why the "x 131" part? why 131?"_
Because OG - FG is a tiny number. Let's take OG as 1.120 and FG as 0.993 that is a difference of 0.127 x 131 = 16.64% ABV and yep... that sounds about right.
Great video. I was always frustrated by fizz in the sample cylinder.
When there's fizz, it's too early on in the process to make it worthwhile testing the ABV anyway. Wait until your airlock is bubbling once every 2 minutes, then test it. In the early stages it's bubbling once per second and there's no point testing SG at that stage because it's got a lot more fermenting to do yet.
''Discard your sample'' What? Never hahahah ........ Surely, Drink your sample :)
He ment to discard the sample when its wort not after the wort has fermented.
Carlos Mendoza Drink that too! It's great!
Peter Tilley p
He did sterilize his equipment so he should have put it back with the rest instead of wasting it
Nice Video!!! Useful one!!
I planned to add some cool water to mine to get to my wanted fermenter volume. However, I forgot to give the beer a good stir before getting my sample from the top of my fermenter. Gave me a lower than expected OG reading. I was frustrated, added the yeast and whatnot, and put it away. It wasn't til after a few minutes of thinking that I realized I should've given it a little mix to get the sugars better distributed.
Don't make the same mistake I did! Lesson learned at least...
It is a good lesson to learn but thankfully it will still likely turn out and be something you'll enjoy -- numbers be damned!
Hydrometers also give us a reason to taste our creations before they are actually ready without feeling bad.
When you think it's done, take a reading. Then another reading the next day, or two days later. If the reading is the same, it's done fermenting. If the number changes then it's still going.
Very well done video! Thank You!
Is even more complicatet than that, because you have 3 parameters that are at play:
Yeast, sugar, alcohol.
Yeast increase the density of pure water
Sugar that also increase the density
Alcohol that lower the density
From a pure chemistry measurement you have to measure the densities before and after, assuming a linear transition of the 3, and interpolate them, but in practice you have the beer chemist, that only assume that, is like the alchemist of chemestry, or pseudochemestry
Very in-depth explanation. Thanks for sharing that.
This is the best hydrometer ever. Why? Because it goes up to 1.170 and a lot of others max out at readings like 1.120 when you may be aiming at creating a starting solution that's around 1.135 to get a potential ABV of around 18%. I know this video is about beer but I am talking about making wine, as strong as the yeast can tolerate. Most hydrometers just don't go up to this on the scale and that is why this is the one to get if you're making wine and you're aiming at over 17% ABV. *Stronger the better!*
this is an excellent vid cheers dude!!!
Can you use a hydrometer to check the alcohol content of a bottle of store bought gin after its been opened, it looks like it's been tampered with and I want to check if it's been watered down
Unfortunately not. You would need a more sophisticated piece of lab equipment to do that. A hydrometer measure the amount of sugar in a liquid solution. While that can be used to calculate the ABV of a beverage (given you know both the starting and ending gravity via hydrometer), you cannot measure alcohol specifically with it without knowing the where it started sugar-wise.
3:20 for anyone who just wants to know HOW to take a reading.
OMG. I just need a 30 sec video that can explain to me what the readings are for alcohol
hydrometers the original OG's LOL
Exactly. Old school style.
Starting specific gravity minus ending specific gravity x 131.25 = ABV..... e.g. starting SP of 1.050, ending SP 1.000 (at 60F) 1.050 - 1.000= .050 x 131.25 = 6.5% ABV Hope this helps..
if you are distilling you can actually read the alc content by just sticking it in your finished product
Great info bud!!
as a physicist i would not say it measures the gravity of our beer hahaha helpful vid though cheers!
thnx for more awesome beer info
I ordered the deluxe Northern Brewer kit. It did not come with a Hydrometer. Was it suppose to? Or do I have to buy that seperate?
Beer NERDS!!! lol love it!
Happy to be a beer nerd 😂
How much wort do you take off as a sample? 100ml?
nice work
I got half drunk putting my first brew in bottles 😁
It happens to the best of us.
Hah, joke's on you, I'm brewing ciders
Thank you for the very clear close ups of the hydrometer. This was helpful. May I ask what kind of camera you used for this? I take hydrometer photos with my phone but can't get very close so I have to zoom in and crop which sucks and takes a few tries.
Glad the video was helpful. We shot this video about 10 years ago with an old Canon XLR camera. Most phones will take decent close-up shots if you tap to focus when you're close in on the hydrometer. Your workaround sounds pretty smart too.
How does this thing work? Is it supposed to float? YOu have shown me nothing I can use. I don't know if this thing is broken or I'm doing something wrong.
It floats and the level at which it meets the liquid is the gravity reading. It lets you know how much sugar is in solution in the liquid. There will be more at the beginning of fermentation and less as fermentation continues due to sugars being consumed by yeast. Hope this helps. Do you have one that is not floating when placed in liquid sample?
You never really told how to read the hydrometer.
seriously!
@Mescalinum Sunshine That doesn't explain anymore than this video does, it just compares different types of hydrometer...
Always the way with instructional videos. They start with the topic and next thing you know you are hearing about how their dog got sick or their next holidays in Europe. Try this... th-cam.com/video/inUwzYxoGUQ/w-d-xo.html then this th-cam.com/video/GCyqBNV6u48/w-d-xo.html for a very complete picture
Hmm, let me try. The markings are hundredths and thousandths, the bolder lines denoting the hundredth and by the numbers 10, 20, 30, etc. The smaller lines denoting the thousandths. If you pause the video at 1:08, you can see this. Once you pour in your wort or beer, you'll read your measurement at the liquid line and not the meniscus line. If your liquid line is halfway between the 60 and 70 marks below the "1.050 line" the reading would be "1.065". - I hope this helped somewhat, hard to explain without being able to show you at the same time. Maybe the next hydrometer video, we can explain it better. Thanks!
If you pause the video at :22 seconds you see the beer at the line 1.050 that is actually the correct notation for the gravity. If it was at the "40" line the reading would actually be 1.040. That's the key that no one ever explains. They leave off the notation apparently to make it easier to read but in my opinion it's more confusing without that.
Now hit play and pause at :28 seconds. What is the reading?
If you say 1.014 you are correct and can now read a hydrometer.
[If you said 1.012 you are not taking into consideration that each hash mark is 2, 4, 6, 8 rather than 1, 2, 3...]
This 1.014 reading is likely a final gravity reading since it's so low. Water is 1.000.
havent brewed in decades but when I started brewing in Flagstaff in the 90's I was told to use a satellite sample, i.e. a beer bottle full of wort capped with loose cotton, to test the progression of the fermentation. I realize that I wouldnt be taking readings directly from the fermenting bucket but it was pretty reliable in my experience plus the added benefit of not opening up the bucket to let bacteria in. Is there are reason to not continue using this method, now that Im getting the beer bug again?
Good idea, I shall do that next brew.
'90s, not 90's.
I dislike beer. But I do like wine and I am getting into mead xD so im more of a wine or mead nerd. but Thanks for the video.
good video.. but i’m still confused on my first attempt at beer
Sorry for the delay. How did your beer turn out? What was most confusing that we can help you out with?
@@NorthernBrewerTV It was great! thanks! my measure stick thing has three different readings on it, trying to learn what they mean
Why bother sanitizing the hydrometer and cylinder if you are going to discard the sample? And if they are sanitized, why discard the sample?
Either way...why discard the sample?🙄🍺🍻🍺🍻🍺🍻🍺🍻cheers everyone
Why is everyone applauding this video when it doesn't actually explain how to read the hydrometer?
Pretty simple Yuri..just add some yeast and sugar to apple juice, cover for a month or so and enjoy. Mine has more or less turned to what amounts to brandy.. 1 gallon of juice, about 3 cups sugar and a pinch of plain yeast.. The rest is patience and time. .
damn i about to buy this things, but my pinapple beer is brewing alrd .
You could still buy it for your next beer?
What do you do if the hydrometer drops to the bottom of the tube after fermentation? My beer went from 11% ABV prior to fermentation and now my hydrometer doesn't even float? I would assume that I left it in fermentation too long and it ate up most of the sugar? Would it be wise to save the yeast if that is the case?
all is fine its because it have alot of alcohol so it float lower...fill up the tube more.
yeast is fine, all is fine in fact
OK fine I might have had a little to drink before watching this haha.
How do you know if the brew is not ready...as you said to scondary formentation? Only way I would know that is by looking for the formentation bubbles and lots of seddlement.
How do you know when fermentation is complete?
There are several ways you might know that fermentation is complete. 1 - bubbles in the airlock of your fermenter slow and eventually stop completely. 2 - the foamy krausen inside your fermenter subsides from the surface of the beer and drops to the bottom of your fermenter. 3 - a gravity reading via hydrometer remains constant for 3-4 in a row. These are all signs that fermentation is most likely complete and you can begin the conditioning phase or racking to secondary or keg.
That's cool. I wish they'd make them smaller then so they don't waste so much beer. Then again I guess that's a good time to sample. :D
If all the equipment is sanitized, why can't you pour the sample back?
I'd say, out of an abundance of caution. It's not like you're losing a full pint of beer or anything.
@@NorthernBrewerTV Thank you for the reply. I am brewing 1 gallon batches of mead. Already lose some from racking it. Just didn't want to lose any if it wasn't necessary/high risk.
I've used two different hydrometers now, and they continue to sink to the bottom. What am I doing wrong?
Try adding more liquid to your sample container.
Did you get it sorted?
I messed up and did not take a starting measurement from my pomegranate wine. What meaningful or useful measurements can I use now that my wine has been fermenting for two weeks.?
You could always take final gravity reading if for nothing else to know what gravity it's ending at for future reference for other batches. But if it's been fermenting for a couple of weeks, it sounds like things are going well. Where's the batch at now?
NorthernBrewerTV it’s still in its carboy. I had to wait for second carboy to come from Amazon so I can rack a couple times using a siphon to clarify it more . It tasted alcoholic. But cloudy. Like beer strength. Thank you for helping me.
So what your saying is that out of my 10gal of mash, 5 percent of that will have alcohol in it? This confuses me so much ?!?!
Mine doesn't float. Does that mean no alcohol??
Every like is a beer for the beer nerds
what are the requirement to choose the right hydrometer
당신은 매우 아름다운 이미지를 만들고 Nghia Tui는 그것을 정말 좋아합니다.
please tell about the working principle
do you take the first reading before adding yeast or after adding it?
Matt Mcdonald yes you take it before the yeast
Why didn't it give us an example of how to read the scale properly ???????? I get confused with 1010 and 1.010 and 1001 for example.
I'm a beer nerd!
Good
What they really mean is drink the sample.
Hi, is the hydrometer reusable?
Yes, as long as you don't accidentally drop or break it a hydrometer should be good for years of use.
Anyone know what to do when the meter floats long before the liquid gets anywhere near the measurements?
Never mind. I forgot to take it out of its sleeve
Well I'm getting drunk off this stuff so I'll just leave it a mystery. Too much work.
Hardcore!
its fine
So... h0w do you use it?
Was this video not helpful? What specifically (no pun intended) were you looking for. Perhaps we can work it into a newer version of this video tutorial.
I’ve watched multiple how to vids and can’t get a straight informative video on how and when to stick a this hydrometer intro a sample. Should take 20 seconds. Get a sample, stick the hydrometer in there for how long to get a reading? Follow the charts. Take another sample at what point?
Just drop the sanitized hydrometer in the fermentation bucket
right but don't we need to check the temp at which readings are accurate by using a sample?
I ALWAYS return my hydrometer sample to the fermenter. Never had a problem. Of course, you have to sanitize the hydrometer and tube, as well as the thief. What a waste otherwise.
Why discard it If everything is sanitized?
The moment you take the liquid from CO2 environment will enter in contact with air bacteria and mold
Mango jush ka gada pan dekh sakte ha kya hydromiter se
Thanks a lot! I started my first batch of red ale, and I realise I wrongly took the readings. The person who sold me my first kit never actually told me how to properly use the hydrometer.
I have a wine hydrometer that looks different. I hate when they dont specify numbers before the comma. So IG=1.1 FG=-0.3 1.1-0.3=0.7 x 131.25=52.5% There is just no way. There are no units on my hydrometer, further confusing me.
I've used them before. Not that hard to understand. you may have to watch the video twice if you don't.
How much wort do you put into the hydrometer test jar?
enough so the hydrometer floats free. the more potential you have the less you need because it will float higher.
How do you check your alch. percent level if you didnt take a before reading ?
You can't accurately.
One way to get a super rough estimate is if you followed a recipe look for the OG listed on it and then subtract your reading from that. However, this may or may not be accurate.
Yup I screwed the pooch on this one too. First timeritis.
Ther IS something called an alcohol hydrometer, but I've never used one.
3:26 you're welcome
can't you read it in the user's guide?
Hlo i need gravity to Aclhol formula
Always remember the temperature ! and enough liquid
why is my Hydrometer dropping to the bottom of the tube?
Can you break it down to rookie terms please on your next video?. It sounds like an
Einstein Equation. I know it is not.
Its measures density s3x
lol it is the way you typed it. now 7 subtracted from 2 gives you -5 doesn't it?
No need to make a 5 minute tutorial with collegiate buzz words to explain something so simple. My mind was screwed up for months trying to understand this until my homebrew mentor clued me in to the simplified approach. At 60 degrees farehnheit, take an original gravity reading, after fermentation stops take a final gravity reading. Take your OG - FG = X. Take X and times it by 105. Take your result and times it by 1.25. This will give you alcohol by volume at a percent level. Do all readings at 60 degrees farenheit. Your Original reading should be done before yeast is pitched. -Active home brewer.
+Piano Man42 i will help you with easier formula .... (O.G.-F.G.)*131=ABW You welcome ;)
Lol you have a mentor
Caribou Slobber? The fuck... lost me right there. Haha! Buffalo urine
I hear ya! Caribou Brew sounds much more marketable to me!
Can i get abv% from amount of co2 that escapes from fermentation?
What do you mean?
th-cam.com/video/Hn7MvvXS10E/w-d-xo.html
If a mass of molecules leaves the solution. It should change its specific gravity.. if i were to measure the volume of co2 and its molar mass.. could i potentially derive the specific gravity of the beer without ever dropping a hydrometer in?
Hmm... It does sound plausible
groovy
my hydrometer doesnt sink at all,it doesnt even shows zero in my wine, but when i use it in vodka it shows 33.so what s wrong with my wine?
Sounds like you have a proof and trails hydrometer. If it is, the numbers will go from 0 at the bulb on the bottom to 200 at the top. This is used for testing high spirits such as whiskey or vodka. You need what is called a triple scale hydrometer.
😊
would it be possible to just distill the alcohol by boiling it off and collecting it then just pour it back to the left over water to control the % alcohol?
YIC You would probably end up boiling off some water as well which would change the composition of your brew. It would also negatively impact your flavors and kill any yeast that you could have used again. They have formulas online that can show you what kinds of yeast to use and how much malt extract to use to try and get to an abv you want. Why would you be so concerned about getting such a precise alcohol content?
are you nighthawkinlight
"Original gravity, or O.G." 😂
1:35
thought it meant old guy LOL!