I'm confused

[homebrewer79]

Ok, I'm having a problem with OG's, I work them out on the Liquorcraft site but I'm always down by about 7-8 points. So if it calculates to be 1052, like tonight, I end up with 1045, I know OG's can vary but I'm a little concerned that it happens all the time. I stir my wort very well (without splashing of course) and I do add hops most of the time, but I didn't think that hop additions made THAT much of a diff. Considering that my FG's are also out wack (a little higher than I expected) I started making my brews with more fermentables just to get the alc/vol right. So what the hell is going on

[Boonie]

Ok, I'm having a problem with OG's, I work them out on the Liquorcraft site but I'm always down by about 7-8 points. So if it calculates to be 1052, like tonight, I end up with 1045, I know OG's can vary but I'm a little concerned that it happens all the time. I stir my wort very well (without splashing of course) and I do add hops most of the time, but I didn't think that hop additions made THAT much of a diff. Considering that my FG's are also out wack (a little higher than I expected) I started making my brews with more fermentables just to get the alc/vol right. So what the hell is going on

1stly test your Hydrometer by putting it just in water.....does it read 1.00?

[warra48]

What is the temperature of the wort when you measure your OG ?

Beersmith has an hydrometer adjustment calculator, eg if you measure 1045 at 42ºC, the adjusted and corrected measure is 1052.
That is if your hydrometer is adjusted for 20ºC. Some are adjusted for 15ºC, but you can reset that in Beersmith also.

[homebrewer79]

I have tested the hydrometer in water and it reads 1.00. I didn't know that some of them are adjusted for 15deg, I thought they were all for 20. I measure my OG at around 22, and FG at 18, I have seen the adjustment table somewhere and at those temps it doesn't make much of a difference (assuming my hydro is set to 20 deg), I will test it in both temps of water tonight and see which it is.

warra48, I would be devistated if my brew got to 42deg also confused at this time of year

Cheers, Matt

[warra48]

I didn't mean you ferment at that temperature! It was just an example of how temperature affects the gravity of your wort.

The example is probably more relevant when brewing AG. In my case, once I have done my first run off and completed the sparge, my wort pre-boil is usually somewhere in the mid 50ºC range. When I measure my pre-boil gravity to measure mash efficiency, I obviously need to make adjustments from the raw reading.

[homebrewer79]

I didn't mean you ferment at that temperature! It was just an example of how temperature affects the gravity of your wort.

The example is probably more relevant when brewing AG. In my case, once I have done my first run off and completed the sparge, my wort pre-boil is usually somewhere in the mid 50ºC range. When I measure my pre-boil gravity to measure mash efficiency, I obviously need to make adjustments from the raw reading.

yeah I know you weren't impying I ferment that high , it just put a funny thought in my head of krausen and dead little yeastie carnage everywhere

[Trough Lolly]

Further to the good advice, you need to bear in mind that your fermenter volume may not be perfectly accurate. When I first started brewing, I had the same problem and it wasn't until I'd done quite a few brews that I actually used to fill the fermenter until I reached the desired OG rather than filling the fermenter to a supposed target volume and then discover that I'd undershot the OG!

You may be over diluting the wort (as well as not compensating for the temperature differential).

Cheers,
TL

[homebrewer79]

TL, I could understand the over diluting side of things if my OG and FG were lower, but the FG always seems to be higher than calculated, This is what cofuses me. As for the hydrometer,I found that both at 15 deg and 20 deg reads 1.000. On the site where you can put in your temp of the wort and calibration of the hydrometer and it only makes half a point difference, even with 5 deg difference in temp it makes stuff all diff, no where near the 7 -8 points I get. I am still

[Trough Lolly]

Ok, then I'd hook up with a nearby brewer who isn't having hydrometer problems and borrow their hydrometer and make side by side measurements on your next brewday. It may help eliminate an unknown cause such as a faulty hydrometer.

Cheers,
TL

[homebrewer79]

There's a slight problem with that, I have no homebrewing friends, hydrometer's are pretty cheap, I'll just buy another one and compare the two. Any suggestions on what brand/type is best to get

[Trough Lolly]

HB79 there are $hitloads of homebrewers in Melbourne - you need to join a club! As for a decent hydrometer, there isn't much of a brand war on them but to be safe, I'd recommend buying one from the decent homebrew shop. Grain and Grape in Yarraville is an excellent place to start. They have a basic hydrometer for under $13 and Ross at Craftbrewer sells a combined hydrometer / thermometer for $24.90 plus postage...

Cheers,
TL

[homebrewer79]

Cheers TL, I'm actually after a thermomerter as well, so looks like Craftbrewer is the way to go. Might just have to get some hops while I'm at it

Cheers, Matt

[StuTee]

*bump*
decided to hijack this topic rather than create another
Was going to brew tomorrow, but thermometer had a 'senior moment' and as a result has found itself in the bin
anyone know anywhere i can get a cheapie (but a goodie)? Internet buying is out if I want to get it tomorrow... Do any big chain stores sell good'uns? g&g is too far to drive...

[gregb]

Most kitchen shops should have a couple to chose from, Big W, K-mart & Target should all have at least one kitchen thermometer.

I think I picked up my first brewing thermometer from Target for about $5.

Cheers,
Greg

[Trough Lolly]

Ditto - I have a thermometer on a metal backing and it does the job nicely...

Cheers,
TL