Alcotec 48 hour yeast - 5 day 20%

[Clarke]

Hi Everyone,

I'm new to the homebrewing world. I recently invested in the kit to start fermenting the Alcotec 48 hour - 5 days 20% High Alcohol. I added the liquid carbon during the fermenting process.

Upon waiting 5 days the airlock stopped bubbling, I then siphoned it into the new fermenting bucket. Once it was in the new bucket, I took a sample into the trial jar and dropped in the Alcohol Spirit Metre (homebrew shop recommended this over a hydrometer). The reading I got was just below 0?! I do not understand this as it was bubbling like crazy for the 5 days! (I will try and add a video of the process).

Although I only added 21 litres of water, after checking this in the new bucket, it seems to be just under 25 litres, what on earth? I defiantly only added 21 litres?

Why did I not get an alcohol reading, I can slightly smell the alcohol upon opening the lid of the bucket.

I have added the Turbo Klear into the new bucket and it is in the process of clearing the liquid carbon now...

What I used:
8kg granulated sugar
Alcotec 48 Hour turbo yeast
40 degree water 21 litres
Liquid carbon (added into the 3rd day I believe, as this was recommended to me).
Turbo Klear

Thanks in advance,
Clarke

 

[MattN]

Hi C. The shop should not have recommended the spirit meter as these are only accurate above 25%ABV and on liquids that have been through another process... i.e..e spirits.

You still need a hydrometer to know when fermentation has finished.

The query with the volume of liquid being high is the sugar pluss the water.

Hope this helps

Matt

 

[bobsbeer]

Welcome : Not sure why you are getting a zero reading, as by my reckoning you should have an SG of around 1.141 which would give you about 20% ABV. But I'm not familiar with a spirit meter.

 

[Clarke]

Thanks for the quick replies guys!

I accidentally broke the spirit metre earlier (probably for the best). I guess the part I am concerned about is the alcohol content, should I be pretty much good to say I have at least 17-20%?

Also, was I okay to stop fermentation after day 5, this was when the bubbling stopped and the packet said it should take this long.

Appreciate your help.

Clarke

 

[Clarke]

Welcome : Not sure why you are getting a zero reading, as by my reckoning you should have an SG of around 1.141 which would give you about 20% ABV. But I'm not familiar with a spirit meter.

Thanks Bob :.

I think the part that threw me off of using a hydrometer, was that it looked really confusing and I didn't understand it (I do have one). Like, you're saying SG and 1.141, but this means nothing to me haha.

Thanks,
Clarke :

 

[MattN]

Welcome : Not sure why you are getting a zero reading, as by my reckoning you should have an SG of around 1.141 which would give you about 20% ABV. But I'm not familiar with a spirit meter.

Thanks Bob :.

I think the part that threw me off of using a hydrometer, was that it looked really confusing and I didn't understand it (I do have one). Like, you're saying SG and 1.141, but this means nothing to me haha.

Thanks,
Clarke :

What is the reading on the hydrometer now? How did you stop the fermentation?

Matt

 

[Clarke]

Welcome : Not sure why you are getting a zero reading, as by my reckoning you should have an SG of around 1.141 which would give you about 20% ABV. But I'm not familiar with a spirit meter.

Thanks Bob :.

I think the part that threw me off of using a hydrometer, was that it looked really confusing and I didn't understand it (I do have one). Like, you're saying SG and 1.141, but this means nothing to me haha.

Thanks,
Clarke :

What is the reading on the hydrometer now? How did you stop the fermentation?

Matt

I haven't checked using the hydrometer, I added the turbo clear today, so I can check it when it has cleared tomorrow (hopefully). I stopped it by, siphoning it into another fermenting bucket (stirred to remove gas) and then added the turbo clear and stirred.

Clarke