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Alcohol measurement without SG ?
Posted: Saturday Dec 16, 2006 12:26 pm
by geoffclifton
I've got a few brews for which I don't have SG's to calculate alcohol content.
An orange wine which included the zest and was very foamy plus a ginger beer which had a lot of undissolved sugar that may or may not have fermented but wasn't measured at OG.
Is there a way to get a measurement other than drinking a couple of bottles and checking for wobbly boots or blowing in a breathalizer?
Cheers, Geoff.
Posted: Monday Dec 18, 2006 12:53 pm
by drsmurto
Apart from finding someone with access to analytical instruments (HPLC, GC etc) you really cant do much. Think i would prob get into some serious shit if i started putting beer thru instruments worth over 500K.
I dont bother much with SG/FG/OG or whatever bloody abbreviation you prefer. Does it taste good? All that matters!
Posted: Wednesday Dec 20, 2006 3:23 pm
by Chris
Basically, no.
Posted: Wednesday Dec 20, 2006 7:12 pm
by Pale_Ale
Do you mean fermentation was stuck?
If fermentation is complete, the yeast has eaten through all the fermentable sugars, so you can just calculate the approx percentage based on what you put in originally. For instance 1kg malt 80% fermentable, 3kg oranges x% fermentable etc. etc.
Sorry if I'm not getting it...
Posted: Thursday Dec 21, 2006 9:25 am
by Chris
Ok PA, what's the fermentation %age of 3kg of oranges?

Posted: Thursday Dec 21, 2006 6:39 pm
by geoffclifton
That would be a hard one Chris. I didn't weigh the pith and pulp and skins but that's at least half and the next question is the sugar content basedd on ripeness and sweetness. Probably safe to say bugger all and just work on the fermentable sugars?
Cheers, Geoff.
Posted: Thursday Dec 21, 2006 7:27 pm
by Pale_Ale
Fair enough Chris, well I can always fall back on the answer of "who cares? Drink up!"

Posted: Friday Dec 22, 2006 9:42 am
by Cortez The Killer
Isn't there a way to work backwards to OG with a refractometer and a hydrometer?
I was reading about it the other day
Cheers
Posted: Thursday Dec 28, 2006 10:36 am
by Oliver
Where's Dogger Dan when you need him?
Oliver