Refractometer readings on a Geordie export kit

lazylizard · Nov 18, 2019

hi guys

i just took the second refractometer reading from my brew which is now 4 days old.. the first reading taken a day after starting was - 1.050.

The one i took today was - 1.036.

its dropped by enough? when taking a sample i seen that the fermentation top has died down alot by around half at least... just worried ive done something wrong and its not dropping enough ..

the very vague instructions say it must be 1.005 before bottling ...

terrym · Nov 18, 2019

I believe you have to correct refractometer readings after the fermentation has got going. Too much faff for me. Thats why I use a hydrometer. Perfectly adequate for homebrewing imo, especially if you are brewing a kit.
However if your beer has been at the correct fermentation temperature and the yeast is healthy your SG should now be approaching its FG which for kits is usually in the range 1.008-1.012 although it can be outside that, so when it bottoms out near those readings its time to bottle it, although its better to leave it for a little longer so the yeast can clean up. Many recommend leaving it two weeks.
And I have never had any of my beers get down as low as 1.005.

lazylizard · Nov 18, 2019

terrym said:
I believe you have to correct refractometer readings after the fermentation has got going. Too much faff for me. Thats why I use a hydrometer. Perfectly adequate for homebrewing imo, especially if you are brewing a kit.
However if your beer has been at the correct fermentation temperature and the yeast is healthy your SG should now be approaching its FG which for kits is usually in the range 1.008-1.012 although it can be outside that, so when it bottoms out near those readings its time to bottle it, although its better to leave it for a little longer so the yeast can clean up. Many recommend leaving it two weeks.
And I have never had any of my beers get down as low as 1.005.

thanks terrym for prompt reply..

so the 1.036. reading is too high for 4 days? sorry very new to this, this is my first kit.. if it is too high when something has went wrong ?

lazylizard · Nov 18, 2019

ahhh took a hydrometer reading and it came in at 1012 which backs up the refractometer adjustment you mentioned i got on brewers friend perfectly... going to just use a hydrometer from now on.. so 1012 is where it should be i assume after 4 days :) sorry for the confusion terrym., still learning here :) lol

Drunkula · Nov 18, 2019

Leave it for another week and don't even open the lid. It's so tempting to tit about measuring it every day but it'll get oxisided and taste like ****. You won't know how **** it is until you've tasted it against future brews where you've left it alone. I've degraded so many kits by fannying about.

EDIT: Actually if you're got to tamper maybe pull out the airlock so you can use something to take a tiny sample to put on the refractometer.

Refractometer readings on a Geordie export kit

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Refractometer readings on a Geordie export kit

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