Trial measures

[PaulStat]

When you've measured your gravity in a trial jar, what do you do with the contents? I presume unless you've santised the trial jar you just throw it down the sink?

[adm]

I normally deposit it in the hole in the middle of my face!

But if you don't want to drink it, yes, just chuck it.

Don't put it back into a fermenting beer under any circumstances.

[PaulStat]

I normally deposit it in the hole in the middle of my face!

Your nose?!?!?!?!!?

[adm]

That's two holes. Although I always use it first to have a good old sniff to see how things are coming along.....

But I do drink most of my samples! No point wasting it - and I think you learn a lot by tasting the beer at the different stages of life.

[PaulStat]

Actually today after smelling hops for the first time, I finally understand what people say when a beer has a hoppy taste!

[hoppingMad]

If its a sample of unfermented wort, add some yeast, ( doesn't matter what kind, nor how much, even bread yeast, ) cover and place in a warm spot. It will be done fermenting in 3 days. Take a gravity reading again and record your FG. This is known as the Fast Ferment Test. http://braukaiser.com/wiki/index.php?ti ... rment_Test which can be a very worth while thing to do. I do it now for all my beers and I know just when to rack without waiting till the primary is completely finished. Your FFtest sample will finish slightly lower in gravity than your actual batch however. Just how much is difficult to say but usually around two gravity points for an average beer.
It aslo indicates whether I've pitched enough yeast, and can indicate one or two other things like, did I aerate enough, did my mash temp effect my FG the way I expected etc. Read the link above for a better explaination.

Even if you draw off your sample half way through the primary fermentation, you can of course, still do the test. Just pitch a little extra yeast and cover.

If its a fully fermented sample you've drawn off, drink up .

[BarryNL]

Actually today after smelling hops for the first time, I finally understand what people say when a beer has a hoppy taste!

There's nothing like brewing your own for really learning to appreciate beer. Chewing grains and smelling hops really gives you an understanding of the different flavours in beers. In fact, I don't think you can really be a beer connisseur unless you do some brewing too.