best way to use / read Hydrometer ??

[Portisheaddan]

I find it hard reading my hydrometer when I put in in the fermenting barrel. It is deep down in it and I just cant read it properly. Does any one have a good way of testing the larger for specific gravity? If I let loads out of the tap into a big jug to test then I have wasted loads of the brew as surley I cant tip it back in?

[randomdave]

one suggestion would be a measuring cylinder. Similar to the sort of thing you got in science classes. That way your not going to waste a load of it.

[adm]

If you get a 100ml sample jar (£3.00 or so), you can just fill that from the FV tap and not waste so much beer.

You are right in that you shouldn't add the sample beer back into the FV - but it does make a good taste test sample!

[Dill]

You are right in that you shouldn't add the sample beer back into the FV - but it does make a good taste test sample!

Why shouldn't you put the sample back?

[boingy]

You can put it back if you have sanitized everything but most peeps don't bother - they use it as an excuse to have a crafty sampler

[Parva]

You are right in that you shouldn't add the sample beer back into the FV - but it does make a good taste test sample!

Why shouldn't you put the sample back?

Because the jar may not be sanitised, the hydrometer may not be sanitised, your lips most certainly aren't sanitised if you decide to have a taste and you also risk oxygenating the wort as you tip it back in. For 100ml out of 23,000ml (23 litres) why risk it?

[Dill]

Because the jar may not be sanitised, the hydrometer may not be sanitised, your lips most certainly aren't sanitised if you decide to have a taste and you also risk oxygenating the wort as you tip it back in. For 100ml out of 23,000ml (23 litres) why risk it?

I always sanatize everything, so therefore my Test Jar is sanatized, my Hydrometer is sanatized and I always return at least 75% of the sample back to the FV which leaves me a drop for tasting (after i have chewed on a campden tablet of course. This sanatizes my mouth , but this makes my beer taste funny ,so in future i'll risk leaving the campden tablet out. But I have heard that VWP tastes better) and the risk of oxygenating the wort as you tip it back in is highly unlikely if you gently pour it back.
I have always returned samples and never had any problems at all.
I think people on here spend more time worrying about their brew, instead of just letting it brew on its own.
Relax its beer, not a premature new born baby.
Just keep everything clean from start to finish and you will rarely encounter any problems

[Parva]

I must congratulate you on your sarcasm. I hope that you don't have to watch 23,000ml go down the sink because you thought it was a brilliant idea to save 100ml. That's not to mention the effort required to sanitise the hydrometer and trial jar which of course is not necessary if not returning the sample to the FV. Good luck pal.

[Dill]

I must congratulate you on your sarcasm. I hope that you don't have to watch 23,000ml go down the sink because you thought it was a brilliant idea to save 100ml. Good luck pal.

If that was going to happen it would have happened by now. So if I do have to put 5 Gallon (I prefer imperial measures reminds me I that I am British) down the sink, I doubt it will be because of a returned sample.

Thanks for the congrats too, very much appreciated.

[Parva]

Thanks for the congrats too, very much appreciated.

You're welcome.