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Author Topic: Rookie question about OG check  (Read 2740 times)

Offline Westley

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Rookie question about OG check
« on: August 17, 2017, 06:33:58 am »
So I'm sitting with my friend last night brewing our own recipe (A smokey irish red ale that uses some peated malt). I usually take my OG when transferring wort into my primary. Is it better to take OG at the end of sparging, or when transferring into primary? Last night when I was taking my reading I couldn't help but think that the suspended particles of hops in the wort must be throwing off my reading. 

Offline dmtaylor

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Re: Rookie question about OG check
« Reply #1 on: August 17, 2017, 07:17:35 am »
Primary is the best place.  Temperature has an enormous effect, if you are using a hydrometer.  The hops shouldn't matter unless the hydro is sitting on a thick bed of hops that settled out.  If using a refractometer, it should work just fine at any temperature for OG (don't get us started on FG).
Dave

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Offline Visor

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Re: Rookie question about OG check
« Reply #2 on: August 17, 2017, 08:43:17 am »
   I always check gravity after sparging, but all that tells me is my pre-boil gravity, which gives me an idea of how much water I need to boil off to reach a desired O.G. The actual O.G. can only be determined after the boil.
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Offline denny

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Re: Rookie question about OG check
« Reply #3 on: August 17, 2017, 09:42:48 am »
   I always check gravity after sparging, but all that tells me is my pre-boil gravity, which gives me an idea of how much water I need to boil off to reach a desired O.G. The actual O.G. can only be determined after the boil.

This^^^^^

and Westley, have you used peated malt before?
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Offline Westley

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Re: Rookie question about OG check
« Reply #4 on: August 17, 2017, 05:53:01 pm »
   I always check gravity after sparging, but all that tells me is my pre-boil gravity, which gives me an idea of how much water I need to boil off to reach a desired O.G. The actual O.G. can only be determined after the boil.

This^^^^^

and Westley, have you used peated malt before?

Yes, once before in a stout. It's one of the most delicious things on the planet. Is there something specific I should know about peated malt?

Offline 69franx

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Re: Rookie question about OG check
« Reply #5 on: August 17, 2017, 07:04:25 pm »
A lot of folks here love peated malt, but only  In Scotch

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Offline Westley

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Re: Rookie question about OG check
« Reply #6 on: August 17, 2017, 07:09:10 pm »
A lot of folks here love peated malt, but only  In Scotch

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That's not what my Irish Red Ale is saying. It's not finished yet, but the wort was fantastic! I'll keep you all up to date on the flavor as the beer finishes if you're interested.

Offline denny

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Re: Rookie question about OG check
« Reply #7 on: August 18, 2017, 10:08:32 am »
   I always check gravity after sparging, but all that tells me is my pre-boil gravity, which gives me an idea of how much water I need to boil off to reach a desired O.G. The actual O.G. can only be determined after the boil.

This^^^^^

and Westley, have you used peated malt before?

Yes, once before in a stout. It's one of the most delicious things on the planet. Is there something specific I should know about peated malt?

Only that 99% of brewers can't stand it!  But it's your tastes and your beer....
Life begins at 60.....1.060, that is!

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The best, sharpest, funniest, weirdest and most knowledgable minds in home brewing contribute on the AHA forum. - Alewyfe

"The whole problem with the world is that fools and fanatics are always so certain of themselves, and wiser people so full of doubts." - Bertrand Russell

Offline HoosierBrew

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Re: Rookie question about OG check
« Reply #8 on: August 18, 2017, 10:58:09 am »
   I always check gravity after sparging, but all that tells me is my pre-boil gravity, which gives me an idea of how much water I need to boil off to reach a desired O.G. The actual O.G. can only be determined after the boil.

This^^^^^

and Westley, have you used peated malt before?

Yes, once before in a stout. It's one of the most delicious things on the planet. Is there something specific I should know about peated malt?

Only that 99% of brewers can't stand it!  But it's your tastes and your beer....


Yep, I'm a 99%er. Vile stuff IMO.  :)
Jon H.

Offline Brotillery

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Re: Rookie question about OG check
« Reply #9 on: August 26, 2017, 08:45:23 am »

Yes, once before in a stout. It's one of the most delicious things on the planet. Is there something specific I should know enabout peated malt?
[/quote]

Only that 99% of brewers can't stand it!  But it's your tastes and your beer....
[/quote]

Gordon Strong quoted a guy that used a pound of peated malt saying "it tasted like an open grave". Lol