SG readings

adebrew · Post by **adebrew** » Thursday Aug 30, 2007 7:04 pm

Ive had a Choc mahogany porter in fermenter for almost 2 weeks , checked SG, was at 1020 but the hydrometer rose up to 1030, that was two days ago, and had the same result today. I used the kit yeast and only added a BE 1 and 250g of dex, OG was 1052, so the SG should still come down a fair bit. its been at about 18C - 20C so I'm thinking temp shouldnt be a problem......

Ash · Post by **Ash** » Thursday Aug 30, 2007 7:15 pm

Possibly bubbles under the hydrometer, being a darker beer it might be hard to see it. twirl it in the tube to get em off & it should drop down

adebrew · Post by **adebrew** » Thursday Aug 30, 2007 9:30 pm

yea twirled away but still the same

warra48 · Post by **warra48** » Thursday Aug 30, 2007 10:02 pm

Are you sure you are getting a clean sample of beer?
If your sample has a quantity of dead yeast cells, spent hops, or other trub, then your specific gravity will be higher.
I suggest you look to take a small sample first to clear the debris from the inside of your tap, discard, and then take your proper sample. Hold it up to the light to ensure it is clear of debris.
And yeah, spin the hydrometer to dislodge CO2 bubbles.

Boonie · Post by **Boonie** » Friday Aug 31, 2007 12:07 pm

Agree

It will never go up

......unless you add more sugars

adebrew · Post by **adebrew** » Friday Aug 31, 2007 5:59 pm

yea did that warra, i'll try another hydrometer

Kevnlis · Post by **Kevnlis** » Friday Aug 31, 2007 6:06 pm

adebrew wrote:yea did that warra, i'll try another hydrometer

Did you recalibrate the hydrometer?

adebrew · Post by **adebrew** » Saturday Sep 01, 2007 11:01 am

you can recalibrate them?

nt · Post by nt » Saturday Sep 01, 2007 11:28 am

Try take a reading for tap water, it should read 1.0000

The reading is too high. my cascade Choc mahogany porter + 1.15kg of LDME went from 1049 to 1007

adebrew · Post by **adebrew** » Sunday Sep 02, 2007 8:50 pm

tried another hydrometer read 1020, nt, did you use the kit yeast? I'm thinking of pitching another one to finish it off (i've got another choc mahogany kit)

Kevnlis · Post by **Kevnlis** » Sunday Sep 02, 2007 8:50 pm

adebrew wrote:tried another hydrometer read 1020, nt, did you use the kit yeast? I'm thinking of pitching another one to finish it off (i've got another choc mahogany kit)

Get a champagne yeast from your local, that will get through anything!

nt · Post by nt » Monday Sep 03, 2007 4:15 pm

nah I recultured yeast from microbrewery's bottle. I had it in primary for a week and 2 weeks in secondary.

I would rack and raise temperature to 22-23C, 1020 is pretty high considering what went in.