Lazy Brewer Equals Regrets And Questions

[djackal]

Is there any way of working out if it's safe to bottle when you failed to take a gravity reading at the start of the brew?

My refractometre says a reading of 7 ie fg of 1.024. My beer is a hefeweizen but I used 4kg wheat, 4kg pilsner and 500g Maize to produce around 33l. I also (accidently) used a 2 step mash where it was at 55degrees for 30mins and then 65-70degrees for over an hour).Of this 25l has been fermenting constantly over 7 days at a temp of around 25degrees. It has now stopped bubbling and I'm ready to bottle but I'm always scared of creating a cluster bomb in the cupboard!! I would expect the higher gravity due to the higher grain to water ratio but is this a safe or accurate assumption?

Any thoughts?

Cheers

 

[Screwtop]

Is there any way of working out if it's safe to bottle when you failed to take a gravity reading at the start of the brew?

My refractometre says a reading of 7 ie fg of 1.024. My beer is a hefeweizen but I used 4kg wheat, 4kg pilsner and 500g Maize to produce around 33l. I also (accidently) used a 2 step mash where it was at 55degrees for 30mins and then 65-70degrees for over an hour).Of this 25l has been fermenting constantly over 7 days at a temp of around 25degrees. It has now stopped bubbling and I'm ready to bottle but I'm always scared of creating a cluster bomb in the cupboard!! I would expect the higher gravity due to the higher grain to water ratio but is this a safe or accurate assumption?

Any thoughts?

Cheers

Beersmith tells me that 8.5 Kg of grain for 33L of wort your OG should have been around 1.056 given this the corrected gravity reading for 7 Brix in fermenting wort is SG 1.010

I'd say she's done, so long as your refracto readings are the same 3 days in a row.

Screwy

Screwy

 

[djackal]

Beersmith tells me that 8.5 Kg of grain for 33L of wort your OG should have been around 1.056 given this the corrected gravity reading for 7 Brix in fermenting wort is SG 1.010

I'd say she's done, so long as your refracto readings are the same 3 days in a row.

Screwy

Screwy

Champion,

I'm going to try and get a copy of my brew softwere back me thinks!!

Cheers

 

[Insight]

1.024 would be pretty high for most modest beer styles. However, the alcohol content post-fermentation does throw off the reading significantly, and unfortunately without a OG you won't know exactly where you are now without consulting a hydrometer. If you get the same reading 3 days in a row you can be reasonably sure the yeast is done.

 

[brettprevans]

thats the moneyshot there. stable SG over 3 days and the brew is done (providing thats its not a lager or youve given it a diacytal rest).

 

[MVZOOM]

Um, you can't use a Refrac to check fermentation... I learned this the hard way after thinking I had a stuck ferment at around 6 brix for 3 days.

You need to use a hydrometer to sort this out, don't use your refrac.

Cheers -Mike

 

[Ross]

Um, you can't use a Refrac to check fermentation... I learned this the hard way after thinking I had a stuck ferment at around 6 brix for 3 days.

You need to use a hydrometer to sort this out, don't use your refrac.

Cheers -Mike

I agree, use a decent hydrometer to check if it's finished. It is very hard to pick up small gravity changes in a fermenting beer using a refractometer.
The beer is only 7 days young....patience grasshopper

Cheers Ross

 

[Insight]

Um, you can't use a Refrac to check fermentation... I learned this the hard way after thinking I had a stuck ferment at around 6 brix for 3 days.

You need to use a hydrometer to sort this out, don't use your refrac.

Cheers -Mike

Hi Mike

You can calculate you current gravity using your refractometer if you know your OG - both Beertools and Promash have a calculator. Here's a web resource too:
http://www.basicbrewing.com/radio/xls/BrixPlatoSG.xls

Cheers