Give the hydrometer a gentle spin with your thumb and middle finger. Name: Rick S. Rick, I hope this information about taking hydrometer readings helps you out. These bubbles can throw the hydrometer reading off by artificially raising it in the wine sample. Hydrometer Procedure For Wine Makers Step 1: After sanitizing a wine thief or gravy baster, remove a sample of the must and place it in the test stand. My hydrometer came with a little chart: Dry Wine 1.085-1.100 Medium Sweet 1.120-1.140 Sweet Wine 1.140-1.160 Don’t spin it merrily with thumb and forefinger… Don’t spin it and let go suddenly. CDN$ 16.22 CDN$ 16. Hydrometers, the only way to test a wine and beer ro cider for gravity, this will tell you how its fermenting Want to make an enquiry? If your sample is a different temperature than what yours is calibrated to, use a temperature correction chart for adjustments (these often come with hydrometers, and are also available online). This is quite simple, actually. Clean and sanitize your hydrometer. 1st – Make no EXTRA bubbles. Fill the stand about 3/4 full, then carefully place the hydrometer in it. Keep the end of the thief a little below the meniscus (surface) as it moves upward. The Brix scale is based on percentage of sugar that is in the liquid by weight. This is when bubbles form from the wine being disturbed and then attach themselves all the way up and down the wine hydrometer. They are commonly used in the making of wine, beer, and spirits to monitor the fermentation process, and are also used often in school projects. That small amount of inaccuracy caused lots of problems. And a Brix of 7° is an SG of 1.028. In many cases a SG of 1.090 is desired to begin the must, as this gives a potential alcohol by volume of 12%. The hydrometer has been specifically designed for the wine and beer maker. On the other hand, if you dip the hydrometer in water first, then insert it wet into the must, you will have about three seconds before bubbles start to attach — enough to get a reliable reading … if you hurry. It is impossible to accurately determine the alcohol content of a fermented beverage without this initial reading. Measuring Alcohol Content With a Hydrometer: The first couple times you brew your own beer or wine, you're more concerned about the end product - delicious, delicious alcohol. or wine. 50. I have a turkey baster just for taking samples. Chefast Hydrometer & Jar Test. G. Totally Satisified . Incidentally, hydrometers are also useful things when you come to the end of your fermentation. Please note that if your beverage ferments completely dry (SG of 1.000 or less), then the alcohol content is the same as your original potential alcohol reading (in the above example: 13% - 0% = 13%). 4.3 out of 5 stars 41. Most hydrometers are calibrated at 60 degrees F, and sample temperatures higher or lower than this need to be corrected. .997 etc and they would sometimes referment. Call us on 01252 338045 or via sales@the-home-brew-shop.co.uk . I have had two ECKraus hydrometers the past several years. One other thing I would like to point out is that when you are actually taking the hydrometer reading, you would like you eye to be level with the surface of the wine in the hydrometer jar. Mon - Fri: 8 AM - 5:30 PM CST Sat: 9 AM - 1 PM CST. Since it fills from the bottom I don’t have any bubbles, Your email address will not be published. Ed Kraus But if you have to use a tube or storage tube to get a reading? If your wine is completely clear and you … Some people make this measurement task more difficult by putting a dry hydrometer into the must. Water is given the arbitrary figure of 1.000, and other liquids are compared to this figure. Alcohol is a preservative, and you should ensure that your wine has an alcohol content of at least 9 - 10%. This is to dislodge any bubble away from the hydrometer. Your hydrometer should have a scale called the potential alcohol (PA) scale. Does this mean there is still sugar in the wine? In Stock (Ships in 24-48 hours) Triple Scale Hydrometer. Also, when you’re taking a hydrometer reading during fermentation, you can have problems with CO2 bubbles clinging to the side of the wine hydrometer. However, the print is more cluttered in a small space with both wine and beer information. Another method that can be used to eliminate bubbles is to slowly pour the material through a fine wire colander. Prior to fermentation your beer, cider, or wine will contain sugars which will make the liquid more dense and so the hydrometer will float higher in the liquid than in water and will therefore give a higher hydrometer reading. To check that the liquid is fermenting, the SG reading must indicate a lower figure than the previous reading. If you consult the chart, at the desired level of 1.090 (12% alcohol), the sugar content should be 2 pounds, 6 ounces. Hydrometers have many uses, but the most common use by wine, beer, and mead makers is determining the alcohol content of a homemade beverage. Step 3: Note that as a general rule of thumb, 1 pound of sugar dissolved in 5 gallons of must will raise the potential alcohol content by approximately 1%. A Quick Wine Guide To Taking Hydrometer Readings. Step four - compare your reading with the chart. This will indicate the natural sugar content in the must. If  your wine is still fermenting you ll need to take the reading as fast as you can before too many bubbles collect on the hydrometer. The wine hydrometer should then be dropped in a gentle manner into the pot. Wine Hydrometers; Triple Scale Hydrometer; Item # HY110 Have a Question? Check the corresponding column in the table according to the estimated SG after fermentation to find out the alcohol percentage and amount of sugar. Take a reading, then refer to the hydrometer chart below. I then decided to check the sugar with the refractometer thinking it would read 0, but it read 7. All dry wines and meads will finish at gravities lower than 1.000 (e.g. I know, potassium sorbate might eliminate that problem, but I shouldn’t need it, as I prefer dryer wines, and try to make or blend wine that has a specific gravity of .995. The bubbles will go with it if you give them a second or two. The density of the liquid is measured by the final gravity like the original gravity. These hydrometers are specifically designed for home wine and beer making and all are suitable for both wine and beer. Triple Scale Hydrometer. For example: if the initial reading is 13% and the final reading is 1%, then the actual alcohol content is 12% (or 13% - 1% = 12%). This hydrometer features a Sugar Scale that indicates how much sugar is in the liquid in ounces per gallon. The hydrometer will read 1.000 for pure water if it is perfectly calibrated. Free Shipping on Most Orders over $50. .995). You can forget to add this compensation when you are new and excited. 3. For brewing, you want to seek out specifically designed models for beer or wine. Triple Scale Beer & Wine Hydrometer • Please Note: Always handle your hydrometer with care and DO NOT BOIL Why Use a Hydrometer – A Hydrometer is an instrument used to measure the progress of fermentation and determine alcohol per-centage. The hydrometer can be used to determine the natural sugar content of the must. (In wine it is always practically 0 if you let fermentation finish) Since it is not exact science you will have to estimate this. One way to avoid this issue is to give the hydrometer a quick spin before taking a reading. Your hydrometer has been specifically designed for the amateur wine and beer maker. Don't miss a gravity reading due to a broken hydrometer ever again. Note: Unless otherwise labeled, volumes are in US gallons. At last, a hydrometer that can stand up to the toughest of brew days (and brewers). Copyright © Kraus Sales, L.L.C. Check out our recipes, browse our catalog, and order online today. Determination of Final Gravity . If you want a dry wine with 8%abv you'd need to start at 1.061. With Winexpert wine kits and Brewer’s Best beer making kits forming the core of a vast selection, this is your truly full service wine making and home brewing supply store. The sides are smoother, and the line of sight is clearer. Chicago Brew Werks HOZQ8-434 Alla Triple Scale Wine and Beer Hydrometer, Green . Call: 800-353-1906. Now do the arithmetic. Most hydrometers are calibrated to 20°C, but some are calibrated to 15°C - any good hydrometer will have the calibration temperature marked. Still, I prefer the extra minor expense of one with a thermometer, as much as I love charts. This calculator, when working with a hydrometer calibrated to 20°C, is accurate over the approximate range 0-60°C, and when calibrated to 15°C, approximately 0-55°C. If you have a closet, basement or wine cellar for storing wine, then purchasing a hygrometer is a good investment. If your sample isn't exactly at that temperature, the reading will be slightly off and you'll need to use a correction chart and some quick math to get the proper value. The easiest way to take a reading is to sanitize a wine thief or "gravy baster", then remove a sample of the must or wort and place this in the test stand (this can even be the plastic tube the hydrometer comes packed in). This tends to break the surface tension of the liquid. Typically the scale will go from 0 to 30 on most wine making hydrometers. Measure the S.G. with the hydrometer. Make sure you get a temperature reading to make proper adjustment (Usually up). The difference between the two numbers is the alcohol content that you have actually produced. Hydrometers used for brewing will tell you the specific gravity of a liquid - a ratio of the liquid's density to that of water. I have been making wine for a number of years and I’ve always had trouble taking hydrometer readings. A hydrometer that uses the Plato or Balling scale will read 0.00º. The hydrometer will read 1.000 for pure water if it is perfectly calibrated. I’ve tried to make sure the tube is level but the hydrometer always migrates to the side. I take a sip before testing and try to guess the SG. Correction (Brix) = 0.03×Temperature - 1.8 (Temperature in … As you add sugar, malt extract, honey, or other soluble solids, the numbers after the decimal point increase. I’ve gotten pretty good at being within a point or two. Too hard and you break the hydrometer or make more bubbles. Read the scale inside the instrument at the level where the liquid contacts the glass. Legal Disclaimer: The ABV calculator is for entertainment purposes and should not be used for professional brewing.