Measuring Alcohol

[Conrad]

I know you can easily calculate the percentage of alcohol in a brew by checking the initial and final specific gravity of the brew, but I was wondering if there is an easy way to determine its alcoholic content without doing this (i.e. out of the fermenter or from a bottle)?

I managed to drop my hydrometre the other day and missed taking the initial. Are there any quick and cheap ways of measuring it (alcohol % this is)?

[Hrundi V Bakshi]

You could enter your recipe into some wonderful tool like beertools.com recipe calculator to finding the original gravity. What went into the beer and what is the volume being?

[Conrad]

Thanks for that. Did that and it worked out at a nice 5.5%. Should be perfect for what is looking like will be a nice light Pilsner.

Just as a side note, is there a an easy way of determing alcoholic concentration easily from an brew with an unknown recipe?

[johnnynostars]

Thanks for that. Did that and it worked out at a nice 5.5%. Should be perfect for what is looking like will be a nice light Pilsner.

Just as a side note, is there a an easy way of determing alcoholic concentration easily from an brew with an unknown recipe?

Just borrow you neighbour's Gas Chromatograph...

[Dogger Dan]

Conrad,

There is a piece of kit called a vinometer which works on surface tension. I have found them good +/- half percent. The are about 5 bucks

Dogger