New to beer making

I recently received a beer making kit for christmas and wanted to know the importance of what final gravity is and how to measure the final gravity once the mixture has been left to ferment. The kit uses a premade beer mix and malt extract.

thanks in advance.

Reply to
Phil
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Congrats! Here's a great starting point ... just about all you need to know for a long time:

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Regarding your specific question... after you leave the beer to ferment for about 2 weeks or so, you can check the specific gravity. If the gravity stays the same for about 3 days in a row, then the fermentation has finished. That is the only *real* way to know --- you can't really rely on watching the bubbles, etc.

To measure it, most people take something like a kitchen turkey baster, sanitize it, then suck up some beer and put it into the tube the hydrometer came in. Then float the hydrometer in there. Usually you can give it a little spin. You want all the bubbles and everything off of it. You then look across the level of the beer at the value on the hydrometer. Note the beer will form a meniscus where it touches the glass... you usually don't read it at that level. Read howtobrew.com for some detailed information on how to do it... I think he has whole sections/appendix for it.

Welcome to the hobby! And remember the motto... "relax, don't worry, have a homebrew!" (RDWHAHB).

Derric

Reply to
Derric

Welcome to the hobby!

Your beer will have a certain specific gravity before fermentation, which will gradually drop as the yeast converts its malt and / or other sugars into alcohol and CO2. If the specific gravity stops going down, then fermentation has stopped, and hopefully has finished. That's the final gravity. That's a good signal that it's OK to bottle your brew, though there's generally no rush. The beer is more patient than the brewer...

Karl S.

Reply to
Karl S

Thanks all who answer...especially Derric and Karl S. You guys have the patience and knowledge to answer the questions and point us in the right direction. My hat is off to you guys.

Reply to
Brian

Reply to
Vince

When I first started home brewing, I followed the instructions to the letter. After 25 years, I find instructions to be a hinderence. My kids broke my hydrometer many years ago, so I go by eye. When fermenting, I wait for all activity to cease then wait a further 5 to 10 days. Using this method I have had 2 bad brews and never any exploding bottles since the demise of the hydrometer. A lot of brewers will disagree with me, but results count. Hydrometers are good to start with until you gain experience, then you go to instinct.

Happy brewing, you will find it a very rewarding hobby, and be the envy of your mates (when you have perfected the art)

Reply to
two bob

Also, if the kit says to use 1k suger, DON"T. Use dextrose instead. As you gain experience, try different blends of sugars (except cane). My preference is; 300g malt powder, 300 dextrose, 300 maltodextrin & 100 wheat malt. This is my preference, yours could end up different, due to your taste buds.

Reply to
two bob

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