Gravity readings on first brew

[Gill]

Hey everyone,

So...I put my Caxton's Pilsner on to ferment on Tuesday afternoon, and just took my first reading. I've been resisting messing around with it until now and have just left it gently dozing away in the corner - this took some determination, I can tell you!

Anyway, the reading, via the hydrometer but taking the temperature into account which is a little warm in this flat (we don't have anywhere outside to keep it) is about 1006. In that the flat IS a little warm (the original reading was about 1005 but the temp was about 24 degrees C, my other half said that makes the real SG around 1006 but I don't know whether he's right), will this make a nasty difference to the finished beer?

Yeah, I'm anxious. It's my first brew. Be kind.

Gill x

[chris_reboot]

I don't do these kind of kits, but from what I know the type of lager yeasts (I'm guessing you've used) will have expected to work at slightly lower temps.
no, you won't have screwed it up as such, it might not be at the optimum that's all (whatever that is!).

that said, it sounds like it could almost be ready to bottle/keg.
take another reading 24 hours later, and if it's the same, then go for it.

what did the instructions expect it to go down to?

as for calibrating the hydrometer, you can place it in some room temp water to see if it is indeed 1.000 in that (as in theory it should be).
TBH, I don't take temp into account myself. I just look at whether the reading has been constant for 2+ days, then keg it.

[OldSpeckledBadger]

The important thing is that the reading is the same two days running. That's when the beer is ready for bottling/kegging.

[mickhew]

Will be better to bottle instead of kegging that one Gill, lagers are better bottled.
Nice to see a woman not only supporting homebrew, but actually doing it too. My wife has done nothing, but make silly comments since I started. "waste of time" "what's that smell" etc etc.

[Gill]

@chris_reboot - the kit doesn't actually SAY what the expected final gravity is, so I'm really kinda winging it for a beginner. Oh well, so long as it's drinkable I reckon I'll be feeling OK about my first brew.

@OldSpeckledBadger - thanks for that, it's confirmed what I thought the situation was. Will take another reading today (didn't get a chance yesterday as I was out) and see how things stand.

I'm so pleased to have this forum!

Gill.

[Gill]

Will be better to bottle instead of kegging that one Gill, lagers are better bottled.
Nice to see a woman not only supporting homebrew, but actually doing it too. My wife has done nothing, but make silly comments since I started. "waste of time" "what's that smell" etc etc.

I'm planning on bottle conditioning the lager, Mickhew. For a start, it'd be difficult to get a keg in the 'fridge! Anyways, I want my keg free for the upcoming Fixby Gold...

Sorry to hear you don't get supported in your endeavours. Frankly, if I tell my other half that the flat smells like a brewery, it's a compliment. He only brews wine though, which is why I decided to break into beer. Strangely enough, he's now VERY keen on my new hobby, and is asking me to look up a good porter kit. Despite the fact that I don't like porter. He can buy me a keg himself if he wants that...

Thanks for the nice welcome, look forward to getting to know you all better.

Gill.

P.S. Does your wife still think it's a waste of time when she's drinking the results? Or is she one of those strange ladies who thinks ale is a male thing?