Drawing a sample into a trial jar

11 months ago | AKMild (Member)

This may sound like a dumb question :?, but I am new to this lark and want to get things right - what's the best way of drawing a sample from my FV into the trial jar so I can measure the SG? Syphon? Dunking the trial jar into the FV? Ladle?

Any guidance gratefully accepted.

Cheers.

Keith

Planning: Best of British Ale, Another Tweaked Wherry
Fermenting: Woodforde's Nog
Conditioning: EDME Irish Stout, Highland Heavy Ale
Drinking: EDME Irish Stout, Highland Heavy Ale

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Responses

Bodger:

Posted 11 months ago by Member

I use a little metal cup which a pour boiling water over first then scoop just enough out for the trial jar, sometimes a bit more for a taster too. I know some use a wine thief/turkey baster.

Planning: WT Amarillo
Fermenting: Timmy Taylor Landlord
Conditioning: WT Amarillo
Drinking: WT Amarillo
Drinking: Nelson's Revenge

saracen:

Posted 11 months ago by Moderator

Hi AKM.
Basically, anything sterile. That's the key. As little disturbance as possible and make sure the implement is sterile. A Turbey baster, small jug, ladle or anything that will contain the right amount.

One more thing. Don't go checking the SG every day. Check it before you start, then leave the lid shut for about 10 days. By then, the fermentation is almost sure to be over. You can check it after this at 24 hour intervals. If the reading stays the same, the ferment is over and it's time to move on. Personally, I only ever use the hydro when the wort goes in the FV, so I have an idea of the final ABV and can adjust things if the reading is out. I never use it at the end of the ferment unless there's a reason to believe there's something wrong. I leave it 2 weeks and by then the beer is almost clear, so it's obvious the ferment is over. It also means you'll get less sediment in the bottles/barrel. Remember, every time you open the lid of the FV, that's a chance for bacteria to get in.

If you're not living on the edge..... you're taking up too much space!!

Planning: - To get some more brews on now the weather's a bit cooler
Fermenting: - Ginger Beer experiment
Conditioning: - A normal bitter with Styrians
Drinking: - All of it!!

E-mail: arnyfris@gmail.com

Mark:

Posted 11 months ago by Member

Hi Saracen,If you usea a FV with a tap could you not just attach a little bottler and fill the trial jar if you want a hydrometer reading? This way the lid will not have to be taken off. I ask this as this was what i was thinking of doing when i start brewing again once all equipment and kit/s bought.

Planning-Connoiseur Johannisberg Riesling
Fermenting-Nowt
Conditioning-Proper Job Comp Beer,Kenridge White Merlot
Drinking-Raspberry/Lime cider,Grenache Blush Rose,Coopers modified lager
SG Chardonnay Wine

peter:

Posted 11 months ago by Member

yes that would be better Mark means you dont have to take the lid off till you put it in the keg or bottles

5 gal geordie bitter
5 gal St Peters Golden Ale as per tin
Youngs Harvest Mild
all a bit moded

beerlover1983:

Posted 11 months ago by Member

I dont think i would trust the trust the tap that comes with the little bottler to not leak after you have taken the sample.

I would just stick with a normal drum tap or what ever tap came with your fv.I dont think you would really need the bottler if you just drawing a sample for hydro reading.

Building : kegerator
Fermenting:Dandelion wine
Conditioning:Fullers pride extract Elderflower wine,Dandelion wine,Ribena wine,summer ale
Drinking: Turbo Cider/summer ale/way to amarillo/funked up wherry

beerlover1983brew@gmail.com

Mark:

Posted 11 months ago by Member

Once sample taken at beginning could you not just disconnect the little bottler sterilize it and connect it again when you think the fermentation has stopped to take the next reading?

Nath:

Posted 11 months ago by Moderator

Once sample taken at beginning could you not just disconnect the little bottler sterilize it and connect it again when you think the fermentation has stopped to take the next reading?

Yup - butlike beer lover says you could just leave the lil bottler off and just pour some from the tap.

Drinkin' - nowt, it's all gone

Plannin'-
Loads a beer after an upgrade!

nathbrew@gmail.com

Mark:

Posted 11 months ago by Member

That sounds the most logical and simplest solution. No chance of infection getting in beer once you have done this before pitching the yeast?

Nath:

Posted 11 months ago by Moderator

Yep do it before pitching the yeast to get the original (or starting) gravity then the reading at the end it the final gravity. Then do a bit of math and get the percentage of your beer!

Drinkin' - nowt, it's all gone

Plannin'-
Loads a beer after an upgrade!

nathbrew@gmail.com

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