What was the temperature of your wort when you took the hydrometer reading. Temp of your hydrometer test should be around 60 degrees F.

 

I just switched my Dunkelweizen over to the secondary fermenter. Hydrometer reading was 1.012. Took a sample too. It tasted just like a Hefe-weizen that I tried earlier this week. Definitely cloudy though.

 

LC is right about temp and hydrometer readings. Although a higher reading just means greater sugar extraction from the malt and more potential alcohol in your final product.

 

 

LC that beer will clear some in secondary, but its style is a little cloudy anyway so roll with it. I am sure you will be more than impressed with the taste here in several weeks if it tastes good now.

The directions said to cool to 80 degrees prior to pitching, so that's when I measured the gravity.

The directions said to cool to 80 degrees prior to pitching, so that's when I measured the gravity.

 

Yeah, but the instructions that come with the hydrometer say to let it cool to 60 degrees. There also should be a conversion scale that came with your hydrometer in case you weren't at 60 degrees.

I found the conversion info, thanks for the insight. I don't have any kids, but I check on Ale Pale constantly, and I can't wait to take it down to St. Augustine for vacation. The bottles should be ready for chilling on 8/13, I leave on 8/15. I just hope I didn't make any critical errors.

I don't have a wine thief, and it's time to take a hydrometer sample? Can I use a baster to draw the sample from my primary?

I don't have a wine thief, and it's time to take a hydrometer sample? Can I use a baster to draw the sample from my primary?

 

Absolutely. I would get a new one though and only use it for that purpose. Clean and rinse it multiple times and then sanitize it prior to use.

Took my sample, then proceeded to drink my sample. Pretty good, but seemed a bit flat. I'm assuming the priming sugar will take care of that

Nice!!! It should be flat, I would be concerned if it wasn't. I know you will be dying to try the brew, but give it some time in the bottle before you truly judge it. It will be carbed up after 2 or 3 weeks, although it will taste much better after 6 weeks in the bottle (if you can hold out that long).

 

LC give us an update on your brew.

Thanks for the input Gunner, the help of this thread and YouTube have been great. I think I'll be saving some money on Christmas presents this year, many family members will be drinking some homebrew. I'm pretty much addicted now, I have a wish list of homebrew tools that I plan too purchase.

 

I am confused about the alcohol percentage. When I took my initial reading the hydrometer was between 7.5 and 8 but today it was hovering around 0. If everything I read is correct, I'm supposed to subtract today's reading from the initial reading but that would mean it's between 7.5 and 8 percent alcohol and I know that can't be correct, Kolsch is supposed to be around 4 percent.

Hmmm. What are the measurements on the hydrometer. The specific gravity is what I would be looking for, something like 1.015 type number. It is going to be difficult to determine an accurate alcohol by volume figure if you do not have an original gravity measurement. Like you point out, a Kolsch is a little lighter ABV style. An original gravity is probably somewhere in the 1.048 to 1.055 range possibly lower(an educated guess). What is your final gravity? 1.010?

 

It is a great hobby and not terribly expensive. One you bottle a few times, you will want to make the move to kegging. So much easier and faster.

The original was around 1.060, and the reading last night was around 1.008?

Nice!!! It should be flat, I would be concerned if it wasn't. I know you will be dying to try the brew, but give it some time in the bottle before you truly judge it. It will be carbed up after 2 or 3 weeks, although it will taste much better after 6 weeks in the bottle (if you can hold out that long).

 

LC give us an update on your brew.

 

Just bottled tonight. Got another sample in and a hydro test. Again, tasted like a flat beer with some pretty nice flavor, didn't feel too heavy either. Definitely had some cloudiness, but that is one of the characteristics of the beer. Hydro test was 1.008. Overall, bottling was not too hard, just a pretty good experience altogether. Now, I can't wait to enjoy these. I think I'm going to wait for the UK / UofL football game to open them, however one or two of them might disappear.

 

Next up on my brewing list is an Irish Ale. Probably going to brew it up in about 4 weeks. I let you know in a couple more weeks how this Dunkelweisen turns out.

The original was around 1.060, and the reading last night was around 1.008?

 

Okay. That is really good attentuation for a 1.060 gravity beer. Yeast had a really strong party. That should give you a pretty high ABV in the high 6% range, close to 7%. You are correct that is pretty high for a Kolsch. Nothing wrong though, might have been a little off with your dilution.

 

http://www.brewersfriend.com/abv-calculator/

Just bottled tonight. Got another sample in and a hydro test. Again, tasted like a flat beer with some pretty nice flavor, didn't feel too heavy either. Definitely had some cloudiness, but that is one of the characteristics of the beer. Hydro test was 1.008. Overall, bottling was not too hard, just a pretty good experience altogether. Now, I can't wait to enjoy these. I think I'm going to wait for the UK / UofL football game to open them, however one or two of them might disappear.

 

Next up on my brewing list is an Irish Ale. Probably going to brew it up in about 4 weeks. I let you know in a couple more weeks how this Dunkelweisen turns out.

 

Sweet! I will be brewing an Irish Red in a few weeks as well, once it cools off a little. Great fall beer.

Took a trip up to Table Top today and picked up a Brewer's Best kit, American Amber. It's already in the fermentor but I'm concerned about my Hydrometer reading. The box said OG is 1.054, and my reading was barely 1.015, is that possible?