Hey All..
I've got a bit of an issue on my hands measuring the SG of my beer.
Firstly, the equipment I'm working with.
1 x Refractometer with SG scale. Calibrated to 1.000 with distilled water and also tested with an 8% sugar solution, reading 1.030 on the dot.
1 x Standard brewshop hydrometer, reading the 8% sugar solution @ 20degC = 1.030.
Both seem to read pretty much the same!
Second, the Beer:
Belgian Strong Ale, OG (according to the Refractometer) 1.085.
Started fermenting Monday evening w/ t-58 yeast, 22DegC, was incredibly vigorous all Monday night through to Wednesday morning, when it slowed down a bit. Airlock activity stopped stopped tonight (Thursday), fermenter seals check and all OK, the krausen also gone.
Having thought it fermented out a bit quick, I take a SG reading with the refractometer. Reads 1.040 - seems to be a fair bit more to ferment... Odd? Give the hydrometer a go, and reads 1.020 (@ 22DegC). Quite a difference! Give it a taste - very dry! Can't be 1.040?
So I retest with the refract with the same liquid in the hydro tube, confirm 1.040. Why the difference? It was quite mirky, thinking the sediment might be interfering with the refract, I left the sample in the fridge for a couple of hours and then took another reading with the refract once the sediment had settled, again 1.040. Even thought the sample is now 6degC, the Hydro is only reading a little over 1.023 now.
Anyone know why I'm getting such a difference in the readings? It seems too quick for the beer to have finished fermenting. But both instruments give me accurate readings with the 8% solution.
At my wits end here!
Cheers,
Stew
I've got a bit of an issue on my hands measuring the SG of my beer.
Firstly, the equipment I'm working with.
1 x Refractometer with SG scale. Calibrated to 1.000 with distilled water and also tested with an 8% sugar solution, reading 1.030 on the dot.
1 x Standard brewshop hydrometer, reading the 8% sugar solution @ 20degC = 1.030.
Both seem to read pretty much the same!
Second, the Beer:
Belgian Strong Ale, OG (according to the Refractometer) 1.085.
Started fermenting Monday evening w/ t-58 yeast, 22DegC, was incredibly vigorous all Monday night through to Wednesday morning, when it slowed down a bit. Airlock activity stopped stopped tonight (Thursday), fermenter seals check and all OK, the krausen also gone.
Having thought it fermented out a bit quick, I take a SG reading with the refractometer. Reads 1.040 - seems to be a fair bit more to ferment... Odd? Give the hydrometer a go, and reads 1.020 (@ 22DegC). Quite a difference! Give it a taste - very dry! Can't be 1.040?
So I retest with the refract with the same liquid in the hydro tube, confirm 1.040. Why the difference? It was quite mirky, thinking the sediment might be interfering with the refract, I left the sample in the fridge for a couple of hours and then took another reading with the refract once the sediment had settled, again 1.040. Even thought the sample is now 6degC, the Hydro is only reading a little over 1.023 now.
Anyone know why I'm getting such a difference in the readings? It seems too quick for the beer to have finished fermenting. But both instruments give me accurate readings with the 8% solution.
At my wits end here!
Cheers,
Stew
