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Author Topic: Hydrometer keep creeping up  (Read 1239 times)

Offline ANDREW.GROGAN1

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Hydrometer keep creeping up
« on: November 24, 2019, 11:33:16 am »
I kegged a cider today and I am seeing some weird stuff with my hydrometer.  I pulled a sample and it was right at 1.00.  I than proceded to keg it and when I can back to the hydrometer after kegging (30 minutes later) and it crept up to 1.010 and it's still climbing a bit.  Any dea what might be happening here?


Offline a10t2

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Re: Hydrometer keep creeping up
« Reply #1 on: November 24, 2019, 11:40:37 am »
Probably just CO2 coming out of solution. Does it drop back to the original reading after spinning the hydrometer to knock off the bubbles?
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Offline BrewBama

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Re: Hydrometer keep creeping up
« Reply #2 on: November 24, 2019, 02:46:27 pm »
Is the temperature constant?  Could taking a sample in a cold basement then moving it to a warm house cause a change in readings?


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Offline Robert

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Re: Hydrometer keep creeping up
« Reply #3 on: November 24, 2019, 03:35:27 pm »
Warming it up would move it the other direction.   I blame bubbles; they're even visible on the wall of the test jar in the picture with the higher reading.   Best practice with a hydrometer is to spin it like a10t2 mentioned to dislodge any bubbles before readimg.
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Offline BrewBama

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Re: Hydrometer keep creeping up
« Reply #4 on: November 24, 2019, 07:11:54 pm »
Well, maybe took a sample in a warm basement and moved it to a cold house.


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Offline Kevin

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Re: Hydrometer keep creeping up
« Reply #5 on: November 25, 2019, 07:45:21 am »
« Last Edit: November 25, 2019, 07:47:25 am by Kevin »
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Offline goose

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Re: Hydrometer keep creeping up
« Reply #6 on: November 25, 2019, 08:07:40 am »
Warming it up would move it the other direction.   I blame bubbles; they're even visible on the wall of the test jar in the picture with the higher reading.   Best practice with a hydrometer is to spin it like a10t2 mentioned to dislodge any bubbles before readimg.

The other thing that can happen is if you may have yeast dropping out of solution in the test jar that is pushing up on the bottom of the hydrometer.  You can usually see this on the bottom of the test jar when it sits for a while.  I have had that happen here and sometimes have to filter the beer with a coffee filter before taking a reading.

But I agree that temperature change and bubbles on the side of the hydrometer are most likely the culprits.
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Offline denny

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Re: Hydrometer keep creeping up
« Reply #7 on: November 25, 2019, 08:11:25 am »
This is why I bought a Brewing American hydrometer with thermometer built in. https://www.amazon.com/Thermo-Hydrometer-Tester-Triple-Scale-American-made/dp/B079L4J619/ref=sr_1_6?keywords=brewing+america&qid=1574693185&s=industrial&sr=1-6

Yeh, I have one of those and it's great.  I just picked up their new precision hydrometer, too.  Bigger scale makes it easier to read for old eyes.
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Offline denny

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Re: Hydrometer keep creeping up
« Reply #8 on: November 25, 2019, 08:12:06 am »
Warming it up would move it the other direction.   I blame bubbles; they're even visible on the wall of the test jar in the picture with the higher reading.   Best practice with a hydrometer is to spin it like a10t2 mentioned to dislodge any bubbles before readimg.

The other thing that can happen is if you may have yeast dropping out of solution in the test jar that is pushing up on the bottom of the hydrometer.  You can usually see this on the bottom of the test jar when it sits for a while.  I have had that happen here and sometimes have to filter the beer with a coffee filter before taking a reading.

But I agree that temperature change and bubbles on the side of the hydrometer are most likely the culprits.

Seems like it would have to be a LOT of yeast for that to happen.
Life begins at 60.....1.060, that is!

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Offline Robert

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Re: Hydrometer keep creeping up
« Reply #9 on: November 25, 2019, 08:13:15 am »
Warming it up would move it the other direction.   I blame bubbles; they're even visible on the wall of the test jar in the picture with the higher reading.   Best practice with a hydrometer is to spin it like a10t2 mentioned to dislodge any bubbles before readimg.

The other thing that can happen is if you may have yeast dropping out of solution in the test jar that is pushing up on the bottom of the hydrometer.  You can usually see this on the bottom of the test jar when it sits for a while.  I have had that happen here and sometimes have to filter the beer with a coffee filter before taking a reading.

But I agree that temperature change and bubbles on the side of the hydrometer are most likely the culprits.

Seems like it would have to be a LOT of yeast for that to happen.
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Offline denny

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Re: Hydrometer keep creeping up
« Reply #10 on: November 25, 2019, 08:13:44 am »
Warming it up would move it the other direction.   I blame bubbles; they're even visible on the wall of the test jar in the picture with the higher reading.   Best practice with a hydrometer is to spin it like a10t2 mentioned to dislodge any bubbles before readimg.

The other thing that can happen is if you may have yeast dropping out of solution in the test jar that is pushing up on the bottom of the hydrometer.  You can usually see this on the bottom of the test jar when it sits for a while.  I have had that happen here and sometimes have to filter the beer with a coffee filter before taking a reading.

But I agree that temperature change and bubbles on the side of the hydrometer are most likely the culprits.

Seems like it would have to be a LOT of yeast for that to happen.
Whole swimming pool full of poodles. 

 ;D
Life begins at 60.....1.060, that is!

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Offline Richard

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Re: Hydrometer keep creeping up
« Reply #11 on: November 25, 2019, 09:26:28 am »
Warming it up would move it the other direction.   I blame bubbles; they're even visible on the wall of the test jar in the picture with the higher reading.   Best practice with a hydrometer is to spin it like a10t2 mentioned to dislodge any bubbles before readimg.

The other thing that can happen is if you may have yeast dropping out of solution in the test jar that is pushing up on the bottom of the hydrometer.  You can usually see this on the bottom of the test jar when it sits for a while.  I have had that happen here and sometimes have to filter the beer with a coffee filter before taking a reading.

But I agree that temperature change and bubbles on the side of the hydrometer are most likely the culprits.

Seems like it would have to be a LOT of yeast for that to happen.
Whole swimming pool full of poodles. 
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