Hydrometer - What is it really for?

[Pav]

I have had one in my kit for ages! , but it has never been used (properly).
Now I have found this forum I hope its use will become more clear.

So I establish 1.000 is the target for homebrew beers before priming.
1.01 is expected from Kits, with admiration given to those who reach the 1.005 park.
Useful to show fermentation has stopped by checking readings over 3 days.

OR have I got it all wrong?

Besides that it still means nothing to me. Any explanation to what this cool looking bit of kit is really useful for?

Cheers!!

[Garth]

Hydrometers are used to test the gravity of a beer by measuring the sugar content

1.000 is plain water, a good way of checking your hydro is accurate, you'll need a trail jar to use your hydrometer

before the yeast is added, most beers will start in between 1035 to 1060

the higher the reading the more sugar, and more sugar means more alcohol

over the next few days this reading will slowly drop after the yeast has been added and fermentation takes place

when finished fermenting the reading should be around 1008 - 1012, heavier malty brews can finish as high as 1020

usually the lower the reading, the drier a beer will be.

[Andy]

And if a beer gets to 1.0000 then something has gone badly wrong !