Do you chuck your trial jar contents??

BruinTuns · Dec 13, 2014

Quick question: why do so many brewers toss the trial jar contents? If we take four readings (one for OG and three consecutive FG to ensure activity has ceased) that adds up to 400ml, geting on for a bottle full.
Surely if we sanitise the jar, the hydrometer and the turkey baster it could just go back in the fv? No?
That's what I've been doing, now bracing myself for a barrage of :nono:

MyQul · Dec 13, 2014

I usually drink mine, so no waste

honeymonster · Dec 13, 2014

If I've taken the time to sanitise everything I pour it back in. Don't see why thats a bad thing.

If not, which happens more often, I'm with MyQul, taste test all the way :)

Brewski · Dec 13, 2014

I plan on chucking mine... down my throat.

Yeastmaster · Dec 13, 2014

I put my sanitised hydrometer straight into the wort/beer to take my readings (so no trial jar). I believe this is considered high risk behaviour but it works for me!

Brewtus · Dec 13, 2014

I always drink mine. I love taking a sip at each stage from mash through to final product; it's excellent to see how the brew evolves!

And for the record I end up taking far more than 4 samples!

Hopping_Mad · Dec 13, 2014

I always sanitise everything that touches by beer.

I still drink it rather than put it back. ;-)

Brewers privilege and part of 'quality control'!!! :party:

MyQul · Dec 13, 2014

BT- As you rightly state all those trial jars add up. If at some point on your HB journey you want to splash some cash, a refractometer only needs 2-3 drops of wort to measure gravity. They cost about Â£20 off fleabay

DoctorMick · Dec 14, 2014

I drink mine as well, find it interesting to see how the flavour changed throughout the brewing process.

dan125 · Dec 14, 2014

I always pour the wort from the O.G. trial jar back in (from sanitised jar), but once the beer's fermented I always drink them to see how its coming along, but this is only usually twice during the process, at the end of primary fermentation and again at the end of secondary fermentation, before bottling/kegging.

brewpirate · Dec 14, 2014

I eat and drink everything even if I know its bad. Its important to have a mental database of these flavors to assist you in the future.

I taste all of my starters before I pour them off so I know what flavor that yeast will impart.

VW911 · Dec 14, 2014

I always thought it was the law that you had to drink it...

MyQul · Dec 14, 2014

brewpirate said:
I taste all of my starters before I pour them off so I know what flavor that yeast will impart.

Good tip BP, as I want to start working with yeast in the new year

DoctorMick · Dec 14, 2014

brewpirate said:
I eat and drink everything even if I know its bad. Its important to have a mental database of these flavors to assist you in the future.

I taste all of my starters before I pour them off so I know what flavor that yeast will impart.

Doesn't that taste a bit nasty?

BruinTuns · Dec 14, 2014

I tasted my very first OG sample (Evil Dog) but it wasn't all that nice so I poured it back and never bothered again, though I probably might if I was AG or doing a partial. As Bp suggests, it can only help the learning curve.
The FG samples I have drank, though usually only a bit as I find these too are so far from their best that I'd rather enjoy those sample jars of beer ahen they've improved. Also I tend to take my readings early in the morning, not the best time to sample a brew..
The refractometer is interesting but kind of a luxury item and as a tight git if I can save the expense I will..

brewpirate · Dec 15, 2014

DoctorMick said:
Doesn't that taste a bit nasty?

Hell yeah. I've gagged a few times but there has been times a flavor popped up I wasn't expecting so a couple of tweaks resulted in a great beer.

Cwrw666 · Dec 15, 2014

VW911 said:
I always thought it was the law that you had to drink it...

Good point, unless you're a lazy git like me and just stick the hydrometer in the top of the FV. I do give it a rinse with cooled boiled water first though, and only take 1 reading when I can see fermentation has stopped just to check.

Francois · Mar 2, 2015

I use a sterilised wine thief. Can just drop the sample straight back in after taking reading

mirsultankhan · Mar 2, 2015

BruinTuns said:
Quick question: why do so many brewers toss the trial jar contents? If we take four readings (one for OG and three consecutive FG to ensure activity has ceased) that adds up to 400ml, geting on for a bottle full.
Surely if we sanitise the jar, the hydrometer and the turkey baster it could just go back in the fv? No?
That's what I've been doing, now bracing myself for a barrage of :nono:

I also drink it, its a health food as far as I am concerned, pure healthy natural goodness!

Ale · Mar 2, 2015

My second brew stuck so I ended up taking a few readings and poured it back it. Don't know if that affected the brew but I think it oxidised. So I now take an OG reading and drink the samples. My last brew was a 40 pint kit brewed short at 21 litres and I ended up with 36 bottles. I have made a decision not to worry about having a bit of wastage.

Do you chuck your trial jar contents??

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