Bri's 2018 brewing attemps :-)

[peebee]

Refractometers can't be used when there's alcohol present without faffing around with adjustment equations.

Once fermentation has started I find it's best to go back to the good old hydrometer.

That's a bit mean. We've all got Internet connected computers and there are loads of online converters* (e.g. https://www.brewersfriend.com/refractometer-calculator/, but I in no way recommend Brewers Friend) or perhaps use a tool for logging and formulating recipes that has a built in converter (I use "Beersmith").

I tried going back to hydrometers recently. Getting a big enough sample out of the fermenter was a pain (deciding whether it's safe to put back is a bigger pain). And trying to read the hydrometer through the murky soup that is fermenting beer was near impossible. And fermenting gas attaches to the hydrometer and distorts the reading.

And hydrometers break as soon as look at them.

*Online calculators are getting increasingly more complicated as they get tweaked for more and more unimportant accuracy. Just use the "Brix" reading (e.g. ignore "Brewers Friend" "Brix WRI" garbage, it means little more than just plain Brix) and leave any "wort correction factor" at 1 (or default, its sometimes 1.04). For some reason "Brewers Friend" calculates "FG" - ignore that, its not FG its what ever the gravity reading is now.

 

[Sadfield]

I think @foxbat post was pointing out the reason for @Manxnorton reading discrepancy rather than an a diatribe on refractometer use.

Nice organised brewday you've got going there Manxnorton, I like the cut of your jib.

Sent from my E5823 using Tapatalk

 

[peebee]

I think @foxbat post was pointing out the reason for @Manxnorton reading discrepancy rather than an a diatribe on refractometer use. ...

Nope. I got the impression @foxbat was damning refractometers not just pointing out the reasons for the reading discrepancy. I'd be pretty fed up if I thought I had to go back to using fragile hydrometers. Hence I argued (admittedly rather long-windedly) to the contrary. @Manxnorton will choose one way or the other.

 

[foxbat]

Nope. I got the impression @foxbat was damning refractometers not just pointing out the reasons for the reading discrepancy. I'd be pretty fed up if I thought I had to go back to using fragile hydrometers. Hence I argued (admittedly rather long-windedly) to the contrary. @Manxnorton will choose one way or the other.

I use my refractometer throughout brewday but once the yeast goes in it's back to my hydros - a pair of unbreakable precision scale herculometers from beerhawk (8 quid each). I too got tired of sweeping up hydrometer glass.

 

[Zephyr259]

hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm
using the refractometer thingy it says bout 1.030...
but this hydrometer reading say bout 1.014..
am I missing something (apart from my marbles...n few million brain cells)
bri

I was curious so ran those numbers through my spreadsheet and they work out fine, assuming 1.050 OG which i found in an earlier post. The refractomenter reading adjusts to 1.016, so your as close as can be expected in my experience. Looks a great colour, nice work.

 

[Manxnorton]

Refractometers can't be used when there's alcohol present without faffing around with adjustment equations.

Once fermentation has started I find it's best to go back to the good old hydrometer.[/QUOTE

THX PAL,
Learn something every day :-)
bri

 

[Manxnorton]

hahaha!!
love a bit banter...
ive been using hydrometers for 33 years n ive lost count of many I smashed lol.
this new fangled reflacthingy is a good bit of kit mind!
just like getting my old sniper scope sorted...
bri

 

[peebee]

hahaha!!
love a bit banter...
ive been using hydrometers for 33 years n ive lost count of many I smashed lol.
this new fangled reflacthingy is a good bit of kit mind!
just like getting my old sniper scope sorted...
bri

Hello Brian.

Aye, I admit to trying to be a little bit abrasive so as to get someone to make an accusing sort of reply. Then I can pounce!

I enjoy winding up the Muggles, but I think they've got wind of me (I don't think my avatar of looney Vince from TV's "Rex the Runt" helps me. Another thread I've got going at the moment probably doesn't help me either - the one where I cry for help because I forgot to put hops in my beer!).

Yeah I like them refractometers, I reckon you look dead cool holding it up to one eye (I've got two eyes, but like Vince they don't agree with each other). I wouldn't give a glass hydrometer three seconds in my hands; holding on to a cup of tea is scary enough. But them "Herculometers" posted about earlier look good.

Paul

 

[Norfolk79]

Talking of refractometers, I’ve always found mine a bit difficult to read accurately. The brew I did on Sunday the pre boil reading I could read very easily, but the post boil was more tricky. Dawned on me as it was an early start to the brew day I didn’t put my contact lenses in until part way through the boil.

I guess when you’re looking through the sight scope at point blank range, contact lenses for short sightedness obviously don’t help matters! At least I know now!

 

[Manxnorton]

bloody 'ell we got a right threesome here!!! haHAHA!!!
I cant use my right eye properly to use the reflacthingy...coz I cant focus properly anymore with the left side of body is knackered...mind I was a **** shot anyways...a marksman in automatic though.. lol.
don't think anyone heard of seen me get upset in this forum, to me its just a forum....and I don't know who's on the otherside of the keyboard..they could be 3 stone wet through and as soft as ****!!!
I just laugh, I take the p out of myself more than anyone....light hearted and full of life....don't take things seriously.....lol
this pic a fews year ago sums me up.....stupid crazy n not functioning....lol
bri

 

[Manxnorton]

The cream ale is still bubbling away after a week(a long hose blow of tube) !! Maybe looking at it 1.014-1.012...
So finking!! (Here I go again..lol)
Instead of dry hopping in the secondary dry hops today...Mandarina Bavaria four day..
That give me time for the ferment to finish..and cold crash it.
Rack off into eirher the SS brewbucket or my bottling bucket
Using the bottling wand..
Maybe bottling Tuesday!!!
Bri

 

[Manxnorton]

08/5/18
hi all,
a few brews on the horizon, a milkshake IPA, Lager n Lime and a citra/marris otter smash.
the milkshake is going to be a hard slog as far as experimenting..and getting the final version 100% spot on...well to my taste anyways.
a quick one the day.....just wanted to tell you i'm still up n about lol
Bri

 

[Norfolk79]

08/5/18
hi all,
a few brews on the horizon, a milkshake IPA, Lager n Lime and a citra/marris otter smash.
the milkshake is going to be a hard slog as far as experimenting..and getting the final version 100% spot on...well to my taste anyways.
a quick one the day.....just wanted to tell you i'm still up n about lol
Bri

Good to see ya mate!

Planning a milkshake IPA myself, probably will be nearer the Autumn though as I've got about 4 more brews of grain to use up before my next order!

 

[Manxnorton]

Good to see ya mate!

Planning a milkshake IPA myself, probably will be nearer the Autumn though as I've got about 4 more brews of grain to use up before my next order!

Morning pal,
The milkshake is a bit of a beast tbh!, I want a ‘experiment’ (as you do!) a small batch using all the head retention and body grains...just to see if it successful...
‘Body brew’ never used it...but worth a try..
Of course there the usual, carapils, flake barley torriefied wheat etc etc
But how how long is a piece of string!!
The recipe building is getting on slowly mind..
Got everything apart from a few bits, prob a visit to the shops today and maybe brew tomorrow!!
Looking at strawberry vanilla,lactose dry hops in the secondary..
A simple citra/marris Otter sMASH ipa has grown arms n legs...so it’s not a smash anymore.
You know I’ll change everything last minute! Hate brewing to an exact tried n tested recipe...seat of my pants again lol.
The lager n lime was supposed to be a World Cup brew with @BeardedMag but it’s on hold...
Sooooo!! Thinking brew tomorrow, brew on Tuesday (23l) just to get my stocks up.
Let you know how I get on...
Bri

 

[Manxnorton]

11/06/18
what a morning...………………………..
lazy prep with the strike water, weigh out grains n hops.
then drive over to h'brew shop...…………………………………….bloody nay base malts!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
ok I could of rung......but to hear no base til thurs afternoon...ffs.
sooooooooooooooo! thinking on my (feet) foot...!
already had lager malt...
could of made the lager n lime, but that's a joint venture for n Kris @BeardedMag
so this batch is going to be a lager/pale hybrid..
see what happens..
a massive do-in n took a long time, as you do.
so far a 'lager' colour...haha!!
TBC
Bri

 

[peebee]

Don't worry about that. It has become quite trendy to use these "low-colour" or so-called "lager" malts, and then perhaps make up for the lack of toasty flavours with all these alien "Munich" malts, "Carapils", etc. Even us Brits once used "White malt" for our pale ales (can't get it now) and I don't think that was kilned at higher temperatures at all, just air dried?

So you won't be making "lager", perhaps pale... (...r than intended) ale.

Lack of toasty flavours? Stick a toast soldier in your beer glass (I don't recommend dipping it in your boiled egg first).

 

[Manxnorton]

Crazy like me.....
Some great remarks m8... I get whstsitchops from you!! Hehe! If only I can get the bloody words out!! Aphasia does my heed in!
I’ll get the words tomorrow...
Anyways...for ME..if it taste good and I can go olong with my notes and make it seem right! All that matters!! But.....I have to think of others..lol
Enjoyed the seat of pants brewday!! Not a typical brewday! But keeps me on my toes...well only on the right hand side of course lol️..
Btw the abv is a massive 6%...hehe!!
Bri

 

[Manxnorton]

16/6/18
the milkshake is doon to 1.010..time to think about dry hops n other additives :-)
brew a 23l batch of English IPA and into the cube.
pitch today n the sample was great, one point up 1.056....est FG 1.014.
apart from that, went up Scotland we my bruv he brewed a Robust porter & a extraxt cooper's IPA.
back home n now itching to bbrew again...lol
Bri

 

[Manxnorton]

20/06/18
just realised I done the strawberry/vanilla milkshake IPA in wrong thread..typical Brian.
https://www.thehomebrewforum.co.uk/threads/bri’s-gf-connect-brewdays.77197/
anyways 4 days dry hops, strawb's n vanilla....the colour perfect, but the initial taste is booooshhhh! vanilla came thorugh straight away...mellowed hops after taste...then trying to get the swarberry taste over the vanilla...it slight mind..

but the day was a peroni type of thing..23l
pilsner malt
flaked maize
magnum hops @ 60 mins
saaz @ 15 & 0 mins...
wlp 800.
est 1.050..got 1.052.
hit all the volumes and i'm happy.
cubed til the morn.....thinking eventually 12c ferment.
so should have few bottles for stocks after the milkshake, English IPA n then the lager...
thx for viewing
Bri

 

[Fil]

Hi Bri, as soon as fermentation starts and alcohol is introduced the refractometer readings start getting effected and will deviate from a hydrometer gravity readings,

So a refractometer is useful pre pitching, But post pitching the yeast your probably better off with a hydrometer reading..

you can find lookup tables to help correct refractometer readings post pitching but ...