[loki31]

Is it possible to have final gravity increase in the secondary?  I brewed an alt with German Ale yeast and have a final gravity of 1.009 while in the primary.  After letting it sit in the secondary for 10 days, the final gravity was 1.015. Is this possible or did I likely misread my hydrometer after the primary?

[Jimmy K]

I think its highly likely you misread the hydrometer. I can't think of how the gravity would increase without adding sugars.  Technically, if it were colder and you didn't correct for temp it would go up, but 6 points would require it to be MUCH colder I think.

[davidgzach]

+1.  Misread or different temps or both!

[a10t2]

Technically, if it were colder and you didn't correct for temp it would go up, but 6 points would require it to be MUCH colder I think.

You can't even get there since the maximum density of water is at 4°C.

[hubie]

Maybe your airlock wasn't on tight and you evaporated 40 percent of your beer off.

If you didn't de-gas your secondary sample, you might have had CO2 bubbles lifting your hydrometer.

[loki31]

All right, I'm going with misread hydrometer because it was the same temp and 40% of the beer didn't disappear from the carboy.  Thanks

[lornemagill]

Maybe your airlock wasn't on tight and you evaporated 40 percent of your beer off.

If you didn't de-gas your secondary sample, you might have had CO2 bubbles lifting your hydrometer.

+1 bubbles, measure again and spin the hydrometer

[musseldoc]

Maybe your airlock wasn't on tight and you evaporated 40 percent of your beer off.

If you didn't de-gas your secondary sample, you might have had CO2 bubbles lifting your hydrometer.

+1 bubbles, measure again and spin the hydrometer

+1

[jimrod]

I once had a similar problem but discovered that I was sliding the hydrometer back into the plastic case too quickly and the paper inside was moving giving me off readings. Broke it and bought another one, problem solved.