[Fire Rooster]

All batches are fermented (primary-only) for 4 weeks in a cool basement (50's).
I figure at 4 weeks everything is done and maturing. Beer goes from fermentor straight into bottle.
My beers are not less than 4 ABV or more than 6 ABV, according
to myself and others.  May check one day to see for sure.

[Megary]

I brew 2.5 gallon batches, so I consider any 8oz hydrometer samples I pull for gravity readings very dear.

I always take Post Mash/Pre Boil gravity readings.  These samples are added back to the pre-boil wort.
I always take post boil gravity readings.  These samples are tasted and dumped.
After 12-14 days of primary fermentation, I package (keg) and take one FG reading for yeast performance notes.

It is fair to ask - given only one post fermentation measurement - how I know I'm actually taking a "Final" gravity reading.  Honestly, I couldn't say with 100% confidence.  I watch fermentation as best I can: when it starts, when it hits krausen, when that krausen falls, when it peters out...etc.

But, for me, any contamination risk and beer volume lost far, far outweighs the benefits of opening my fermenter and pulling multiple samples to ensure 100% FG certainty.  And, no, I won't be purchasing a refractometer any time soon.

[tommymorris]

I have brewed many batches without gravity readings. With a clear fermenter and experience you know when fermentation is complete.

That said, I usually take gravity readings. OG helps me build a predictable efficiency model for recipe development. FG is nice to know in case I want to try to change it on the next batch (different mash profile or change yeast). Plus, one of the most common questions I get from people drinking my beer is ‘How much alcohol is in it?’ It’s nice to have an answer.

I use a Tilt. I also sanitize my hydrometer and drop it straight in the fermenter (when the Tilt’s battery is dead or to double check the Tilt). I don’t want to waste my precious 2.5 gallons of beer either.

[coonmanxdog]

I have brewed many batches without gravity readings. With a clear fermenter and experience you know when fermentation is complete.

That said, I usually take gravity readings. OG helps me build a predictable efficiency model for recipe development. FG is nice to know in case I want to try to change it on the next batch (different mash profile or change yeast). Plus, one of the most common questions I get from people drinking my beer is ‘How much alcohol is in it?’ It’s nice to have an answer.

I use a Tilt. I also sanitize my hydrometer and drop it straight in the fermenter (when the Tilt’s battery is dead or to double check the Tilt). I don’t want to waste my precious 2.5 gallons of beer either.

Just watched a video about the Tilt hydrometer. Wow, we have come a long ways. That is pretty cool.

[BrewBama]

Just watched a video about the Tilt hydrometer. Wow, we have come a long ways. That is pretty cool.

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[Big Monk]

I'd honestly be more inclined to skip a pH reading altogether then to skip gravity readings. Especially with a refractometer. It's so easy and requires so little wort. I care very highly about gravity and tracking it across the mash.

[denny]

I'd honestly be more inclined to skip a pH reading altogether then to skip gravity readings. Especially with a refractometer. It's so easy and requires so little wort. I care very highly about gravity and tracking it across the mash.

I'm with you.

[Die Beerery]

And at the far end of the other spectrum , I sit.


https://youtu.be/rJyrvUxkhls

[denny]

And at the far end of the other spectrum , I sit.


https://youtu.be/rJyrvUxkhls

I was thinking the same thing...that's what makes homebrewing great.  The right way is whatever each of us says it is for us.

[Frankenbrew]

I begin a brew with certain expectations: Color, ABV, IBU, body Mouthfeel, etc. At every point, I want to know how closely I am reaching those expectations, or not. I am not a perfectionist; if I am off a bit, it doesn't bother me because I know that small variations are, well, small. But if I am way off on anything, I want to know, so that I can adjust accordingly. When I plan a brew, I want the beer to be very close to what I planned. The expectation and the anticipation is what I love about this hobby! It is all about how good the particular recipe is going to be down the line, one or two or three months in the future.

That's why I measure.

[Richard]

And at the far end of the other spectrum , I sit.


https://youtu.be/rJyrvUxkhls

That was the most tedious, boring and least informative product review I have ever seen.

[Die Beerery]

And at the far end of the other spectrum , I sit.


https://youtu.be/rJyrvUxkhls

That was the most tedious, boring and least informative product review I have ever seen.

Good deal, as it wasn’t  a product review. Simply a tool I use in my brewery and the reasoning for how and why. 


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[Richard]

And at the far end of the other spectrum , I sit.
https://youtu.be/rJyrvUxkhls

That was the most tedious, boring and least informative product review I have ever seen.

Good deal, as it wasn’t  a product review. Simply a tool I use in my brewery and the reasoning for how and why. 
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

In that case it could have been covered in 1-2 minutes instead of 11 minutes. I was also looking for some information on the physical principles on which the unit works, but there was no such technical information to tell me why this is better than a refractometer or hydrometer. The message I got was "I have enough money to spend on this expensive toy, don't you wish you did, too?"

[Big Monk]

And at the far end of the other spectrum , I sit.
https://youtu.be/rJyrvUxkhls

That was the most tedious, boring and least informative product review I have ever seen.

Good deal, as it wasn’t  a product review. Simply a tool I use in my brewery and the reasoning for how and why. 
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

In that case it could have been covered in 1-2 minutes instead of 11 minutes. I was also looking for some information on the physical principles on which the unit works, but there was no such technical information to tell me why this is better than a refractometer or hydrometer. The message I got was "I have enough money to spend on this expensive toy, don't you wish you did, too?"

Again, you sound like you are describing, or were expecting a product review. You could have just stopped watching.

[dbeechum]

C'mon y'all... I suspect most of us are a little tense currently (or maybe it's just me...)

All y'all (and I'm including myself in the all) need to take a deep breath, enjoy that, and play nice.

And for the record - I think the Tilts and EasyDens are both really spiffy.