Thanks for your help! I did not understand how to read the scale on the hydrometer or the importance of taking these measurements. Now I get it. I have not seen this info in books or instruction explained quite the same way.
Thanks for the vid Craig. I just measured my stout's OG tonight and when it read "33" I was so confused. As soon as the on-screen measurements you show, I knew it was really 1.033!!!
I brewed a batch of imperial stout Dec 24 , 24days ago and the hrdro reading has been at 1.020 for the last 2 weeks...It should be at 1.014 or less to bottle according to the can.
Do you think because its steady at 1.020 i can go ahead or just keep waitng.
@TheodorMorell Ok now one thing I have learned through brewing and culinary school is that recipes and instructions should be more looked at as guidelines. what i mean by this is that its not always going to end up exactly they way it looks on paper. Now since your SG has stayed steady i would say it is done fermenting and you can go ahead and bottle. If you must attempt to bring that SG down to 1.014 i would say your safest option would to be to add more yeast. Cheers
@Krissingham Thanks I been learning this as well, This was my first homebrew that stayed so high for so long, From what I"ve been reading the last few days it"s seems to be a common problem with stouts, and alot of guys say bottle it at 1020.
I guess I'll put it in pet bottles so noone gets hurt.
I saw 20+ minutes on the vid and thought, ok, I'll give it a few minutes. You had me hooked within 3 minutes. Naturally, I watched the whole thing. A great explanation & I loved you production techniques. Very well done. Are you using camtasia as an editor? If not what are you using. I really enjoyed the inlay of the hydrometer close up as well as the graphics you included. Thanks for your efforts.
Excellent tutorial. The most informative part for me, being a new brewer, was this quote: "You could put sugar and water together, add yeast, and get a beverage with an alcohol content."
That statement has just opened doors for me in a way that may be difficult to understand. Thank you.
Oh thank you for making a tutorial on hydrometers thats ACTUALLY USEFUL! I think what makes this helpful is that you actually discuss what "gravity" is. Cheers!
YOU ARE THE MAAAAAAAAAN!!! I've been brewing for 5+ years and never paid attention to the hydrometer because I didn't understand it! Tonight, we brewed a batch, and I just wanted to learn about it real quick. THANK YOU for making it so easy to understand! LOVE your video, LOVE your shirt, stay cool, brother!
Hey Craig, I have 15 liters of Hard cider fermenting already,anyway I can check the alcohol content after its done? I only used apple juice so can I just pre test with the same apple juice? Thanks
@CraigTube so if you only start with say 1.02 how much more dextrose would you need to add to get it to 1.04? would you just do it trial n error by adding say half a cup at a time?
no offense but initially i thought you looked like a quak, but your explanation of everything changed my mind. i really enjoyed learning from your video thank you.
Great instructional video. Especially liked the hydrometer-in-isopropyl alchohol demonstration. I would have learned a lot more in High School had we learned to make beer!
Hey Craig! My Coopers DIY hydrometer is giving me a headache. It gives me a reading of less den 0.990, more like 0.975 in water. Most places I've checked says water has a reading of 1.000 so it going as low as that makes me wonder if it is busted or can water vary as much as that :) I never tested it in water when I recived the kit so I dont know what the "virgin" reading was, incase I got something on the Hydrometer that affects its reading. Whats your thought on this, oh Brewlord Craig :)
@DrTransDickables ..continueing. The hydrometer has me worried since since if its readings are waay off what it should be I cant really trust it to tell me O.G and F.G on ma beers. My Lager that has been brewing now for 6 days had a OG of 1.035 and now on day 6 shows me a reading of 1.002, wich too a novice, who has watched a lot of youtube but doesnt really have a clue sounds like a very low F.G but the amount it has shifted from O.G 1.035 seems reasonable... I'm rambling :3
@DrTransDickables Jesus christ, working nightshift and posting in the morning aint good.. The reading on water was ment to say 0.985 not 0.975. Cheers.
@DrTransDickables Mine reads 0.995 where as my glass ones read 1.000 . But yours sounds way out there. I'd ask them for a new one. They'll send you one.
@CraigTube I contacted Coopers here in Sweden today and they posted one allready. Can I just let my brew sit (its now on day 7 in the fermenter) untill I have the working hydrometer and have made two tests 24 hours apart or will it sit too long in my fermenter? They are quite quick in their deliveries so I should have it tomorrow wich meens earliest time of bottling will be on day 9. Cheers for a great show, your enthusiasm really rubs off :)
Hey guys this is a bit embarrassing, I dropped my hydrometer in the bottle
and the glass smashed and spilled a few of those little beads. Just wanted to know i they are deadly poisonous and if I should just throw the brew away a reply would be great thanks.
@benjaminxlewis I think the balls are for weight, but who knows if they were in contact with the mercury. It's scary. I'm not sure I would drink that. :(
Thatnks Craig haha, yeah my family was not keen on my using that liquid it was just pure alchohol. I just started a brewing today using a Canadian lager. I'll let you know how it goes. P.s. I got a new hydrometer lol
Nice one, video helped immensly! Just got into brewing my own and stumbled upon your video. Expertly put together too. Love the merged shots and the bloopers too! :)
Great video. In case it hasn't already been mentioned, I think I remember what causes the water to "cling" to the sides of objects. It's surface tension. Just like if you puncture a thin piece of say rubber with a pin, you'll see the same effect as the rubber "clings" to form a seal around the pin. This surface tension is what allows certain insects to walk on water. They're not heavy enough to break the surface tension. (Thanks to my many years watching Mr. Wizard!)
This was really informative! i like you're videos, Im currently looking into getting a coopers starter beer kit if i can find one in the UK. Also i laughed so hard at the blooper!
great video sir, thank you! your vids got me back into home brewing,and im not looking back. ive done the coopers dark and real ale now,both superb. ive just bottled a youngs cider and about to start another coopers real ale.just got a hydrometer today and this vid cleared everything up for me,thank you. your the man!
my home brew kit says to test the alcohol content before bottled ,yeast makes alcohol when it eats sugar so how does it have alcohol befor adding yeast?? .
@Spazzy4Twenty The hydrometer doesn't measure alcohol,It measures the potential for boyancy in a liquid based on suspended solids in the liquid. In other words before the yeast is added, there's much suspended sugar in the wort. The hydrometer will float higher in that solution. Once the yeast is added, the sugars will slowly be eaten and the hydrometer will start to float lower until it reaches it's lowest level for that brew. No alcohol is being measured, but the readings are used to calc ABV
Thanks for these videos Craig. It's good to see someone with knowledge without being snobby about it. I am fairly knowledgable about the process of brewing beer, and still learn something new from these. Thanks again, and happy brewing!
Oh, Craig, you are mighty terrific. You got me onto inmate brew and now I am in love not only with the finished product but the entire process. Thanks, my friend. Your videos are always a pleasure :)
depending on the style of beer you are brewing 1.040 can be very low. kybourbon, to figure out the % of your alcohol content you take your (OG-FG) x 131.25 = alcohol %
Craig, this is the perfect Hydrometer video. I make wine right now and haven't used one, though now I am so curious and wish I had! I will make sure to purchase and use one in the future though.
@CraigTube, o.k. now what? you got your O.G. & F.G. readings how do you use these numbers to determine your % of alcohol. do you subtract one from the other or is their a special formula. you never explained, you just showed us how to read a hydrometer. not how to figure alcohol content. it was still a good video.
Nice, Thanks Craig. I lost my calculator and the link was just what I needed..my son tells me that "curve" on the reading is called a "meniscus" . I know, surprised me too!
ooooah, thanks Craig for sharing your knowledge with us, really informative with fun.
I hope to start brewing in the near future.
I last brewed about 25 years ago and I much preferred to use glass bottles bcause I found that the barrel that I used added a plastic taste to the beer. Are todays barrels any better in that respect ?
I have a question, Now in my 6.5gal carboy I have fermenting Coopers Draught. It makes 6 us gallons of beer, after carefully mesuring the water, and dme, i poured my wort in the carboy and it is showing around 6.5 gal of liquid. And I only started with 5 gal of water in the carboy and used 1/2 gallon to boil my ingredients. Is it ok that its a bit over the 6gal mark?
I tasted a sample, and it tastes fine, with a sg of 1.043. Any ideas? Cheers!
i have just started wit home brew love the vids u do make it look simple ... cause it is lol wish u had a vid for priming bottles and head of the beer.
This is my first time brewing beer. As part of my kit, i received a hydrometer, but it doesn't have that scale as a normal hydrometer. It has a reading from 0 to 20.My fermentation stopped on the third day, and now on the fourth everything looks just fine, with the "hydrometer" pointing at 4. what does this mean?
This is my first time brewing beer. As part of my kit, i received a hydrometer, but it doesn't have that scale as a normal hydrometer. It has a reading from 0 to 20.My fermentation stopped on the third day, and now on the fourth everything looks just fine, with the "hydrometer" pointing at 4. what does this mean?
Ok I am just getting into brewing/wine making... I needed to understand the tools of the trade... This was great... I can't believe how informative this video... I think I could teach a class after viewing this... Thanks so very much...
craig, thank you so much for these. me and my roomate just made our first brew. and we watched a number of your videos in preparation! keep up the good work.
I have recently purchase a coopers home brew kit and have found your videos very helpful. my brew has been fermenting for a few days now. all signs are looking good except no activity in the airlock and have checked for leaks. I have watched your airlock 101 video and am feeling ok with my brew except for when I did the OG prior to putting in the yeast I got a reading of 1.056. Is this ok. Do you think I will have a normal FG when my brew is ready for bottling. regards Mark
@TheMarks82 Hey! That OG reading seems a little high, but that's not a bad thing. Did you do the Lager that came with the kit. If so, something might be causing a high reading, and the same might happen when it's done, so if you get 1.012 or something like that for two days in a row, you're fine to bottle. Just give it 8-10 days and it will be done, but check it anyway.
@TheMarks82 OG of 1056 is fine. Usually the more sugar/malt etc you put in the higher the OG. I jsut did a batch of IPA with OG 1058 and airlock wasnt moving. It fermented fine however. Some are very slow. You can usually see the faomy ring around top of your brew in fermenter and take the SG and see. if its 1012-1010 or so its ok. Leave it 2 days. If it reads same SG as 2 days ago its stopped and its good to bottle.
That was really helpful.. I've been reading up confusing instructions on line for the past hour, NOW I understand :-) Attempting my first home brew wine tomorrow. thanks !
i've purchust a hydrometer sins waching this but mine doesn't not have nombers on the side for estimating the alcohol content can you help with the estimating
Hi Craig can you tell me why my wine ferment started at 1.189 at the 30th aug and 1st rack at .099 sept 5th & the ferment was only 68 / 77 degrees with the slowest gas on the planet I used 2 pks. for 23 L lalvin 1118 Tsp nutrient 3.5 L distilled water 1 reisling Piesporter premix has a kick like a pack mule I plan to rack again add my bysulfates & clearing agents @ the end of the month but WOW have you ever encountered any that fast acting the only thing I think of is the box exp mar 2011
I've watch allot of your videos plus others i think i understand how to make beer cider and wine but can you tell me how to make things like vodka and other spirits BTW love your vids
@MrLoganloganlogan For those, you use water, sugar and corn meal, but you can't just drink it once it's fermented. It could make you VERY sick. You have to use a distiller. Look up "how to make moonshine".
@CraigTube Hi Craig. Nice video. I was wondering if you could tell me why the moonshine method you suggested (before distillation) would make you sick, since isn't it essentially a corn-meal wine? I'm trying to make wine, not moonshine, but I really want to avoid anyone getting sick. I made a winemaking blog if that makes things any clearer. Thanks a lot.
@JoneeKemp Well, I'm not an expert on it but I'm told that when you ferment that much sugar with water, it can contain methyl alcohol, which can blind you. When you distill the brew, you remove the methyl because it evaporates at a lower temp than the alcohol we drink, so it dissapears first. Then you're left with the stuff that is safe, up to a point, when you have to stop distilling it because there's other dangerous stuff that evaporates at higher temps. Look up "how to make moonshine" on YT.
@JoneeKemp Part 2 Look for a video with a sexy chick in the thumbnail. She explains all of this. As far as drinking just the fermented "mash" as it's called, do it at your own risk. That's all I'm told.
I've watch allot of your videos plus others i think i understand how to make beer cider and wine but can you tell me how to make things like vodka and other spirits
the "crest thing" is called a meniscus, isopropyl alcohol is propan-2-ol which is an isomer of propananol (has the alcohol group on the first of the3 carbons) which is nothing like the alcohol we drink (ethanol) they are completely different. not wanting to sound like a know it all just thought you might like to know
I bought the Cooper's Home Brew Kit and I have fallen in love with home brewing....The directions are simple. Yet, it does not give detailed description on using the hydrometer....your video has been very instrumental and quite educational...Thank You...this is my 2nd video I have watched of yours and I will continue to seek other videos..
Thanks so Much Craig I was totally Baffled by the Hydrometer but not any more my first batch due to be bottled tomorrow 04/11/10 keeping my fingers crossed so far so good, thanks again
Your videos are awesome! You make home brewing so appealing that I have started to do so myself. Thank you for sharing your talents, humor, and appreciation for home brew with everyone!
thanx man that has made it more clear for me i think i know what to do now. your vids are clear on what we need to do with little jargen. iam doing my first berw i will let ya know how i get on, wuddz in the UK.
Good job, you were prob laughin so hard at the end of video cause you were so damn drunk off of drinkin all that homemade frosty brew you make!! ha ha
this is the best i have ever seen about hydrometres that i was looking since my work is highly related to hydrometers since i use it to determine API of crude oil
I'm just getting into homebrewing and started my first experimental batch of wine. How do I achieve more alcohol content at the end of fermentation? Add sugar to my must till the hydrometer reads a desired potential alcohol level?
Extremely informative. Thanks Craig. You sound like a Canuck. If I'm wrong, sorry, but if I'm right..."Take off you hoser...Ehh?" Just kidding.
One thing, though, I can't believe you never mentioned the word, "density". The fermentation process demonstrates the beauty of nature in it's magnificent glory. The principles of density in action.
I just bought myself an "Oechsle scale" hydrometer and I'm wondering if there is any sagnificant difference between the Oechsle scale and other types of hydrometer scales? And do you know if the Oechsle scale is good for checking the SG of beer?
If memory serves me correctly, yes that's the number. I don't use that tho, my hydrometer has potential alcohol markings on it so I know what it's going to be before I pitch the yeast, providing it ferments down normally.
i swam in a pool of alcohol at the college frat party - the courtyard was 4 inches deep in a cocktail of beer punch piss and probly spew - as far as i know nobody drowned!
HiCraig,thanks very muchos,this video did help me with some questions I had with my first CoopersBrew !!Actually you answered99% of questions I had including the one about the"Meniscus"the"Clinging"of the beer to the Hydrometer.One question I didhave w
verry informative
68slipnot 2 days ago
Awesome dude!
marmiteoneill 3 days ago
Thanks for your help! I did not understand how to read the scale on the hydrometer or the importance of taking these measurements. Now I get it. I have not seen this info in books or instruction explained quite the same way.
kg7953317 4 days ago
Thanks for the vid Craig. I just measured my stout's OG tonight and when it read "33" I was so confused. As soon as the on-screen measurements you show, I knew it was really 1.033!!!
derekge 1 week ago
Hey Craig,
LOve your vids.
Question for you,
I brewed a batch of imperial stout Dec 24 , 24days ago and the hrdro reading has been at 1.020 for the last 2 weeks...It should be at 1.014 or less to bottle according to the can.
Do you think because its steady at 1.020 i can go ahead or just keep waitng.
Thanks
TheodorMorell 1 week ago
@TheodorMorell Ok now one thing I have learned through brewing and culinary school is that recipes and instructions should be more looked at as guidelines. what i mean by this is that its not always going to end up exactly they way it looks on paper. Now since your SG has stayed steady i would say it is done fermenting and you can go ahead and bottle. If you must attempt to bring that SG down to 1.014 i would say your safest option would to be to add more yeast. Cheers
Krissingham 1 week ago
@Krissingham Thanks I been learning this as well, This was my first homebrew that stayed so high for so long, From what I"ve been reading the last few days it"s seems to be a common problem with stouts, and alot of guys say bottle it at 1020.
I guess I'll put it in pet bottles so noone gets hurt.
cheers
TheodorMorell 1 week ago
making my 1st batch of wine an new nothing about a hydrometer till your video very good explanation thnxs
pandaann1 1 week ago
I saw 20+ minutes on the vid and thought, ok, I'll give it a few minutes. You had me hooked within 3 minutes. Naturally, I watched the whole thing. A great explanation & I loved you production techniques. Very well done. Are you using camtasia as an editor? If not what are you using. I really enjoyed the inlay of the hydrometer close up as well as the graphics you included. Thanks for your efforts.
richardkinzer 2 weeks ago
@richardkinzer Thank you. I just use Sony Vegas for editing. Cheers!
CraigTube 1 week ago
ye be of canadian descent
Mattne421 2 weeks ago
Hahaha. Entertaining, Enjoyable video. I'm ready to put my Hydrometer to action!
DopeDivinity 2 weeks ago
I was in the dark about the hydrometer and the ABV until I watched this video. Thank You for your very informative video!!
Hankforpresident07 2 weeks ago
very good video!
spanishgypsy1988 2 weeks ago
Excellent tutorial. The most informative part for me, being a new brewer, was this quote: "You could put sugar and water together, add yeast, and get a beverage with an alcohol content."
That statement has just opened doors for me in a way that may be difficult to understand. Thank you.
kfrr 3 weeks ago
Oh thank you for making a tutorial on hydrometers thats ACTUALLY USEFUL! I think what makes this helpful is that you actually discuss what "gravity" is. Cheers!
evilkevin232 3 weeks ago
Hey craig, I'm gonna invest in a hydrometer and I wanted to know where do you think I should purchase it from. I would like the same one you use.
THEORYZ1 1 month ago
Comment removed
nikomkvli171 1 month ago
thank you so much
bdrjaber 1 month ago
Graciously I thank you for being such a good teacher. I now GET it!
ddawn54 1 month ago
YOU ARE THE MAAAAAAAAAN!!! I've been brewing for 5+ years and never paid attention to the hydrometer because I didn't understand it! Tonight, we brewed a batch, and I just wanted to learn about it real quick. THANK YOU for making it so easy to understand! LOVE your video, LOVE your shirt, stay cool, brother!
JoeJonCoole 1 month ago
I think the term is meniscus i think?
urzaspath1234 1 month ago
I swear if my chemistry teacher taught me stuff like this I would have listened.
TheEpiphan3 1 month ago 2
Thanks for the video/instruction. Very helpful. Thank you!
Imnrgman 1 month ago
Brilliant, explained it all!
Thanks!
duncansturner101 2 months ago in playlist Homebrewing
Hey Craig, I have 15 liters of Hard cider fermenting already,anyway I can check the alcohol content after its done? I only used apple juice so can I just pre test with the same apple juice? Thanks
nwoisnow 2 months ago
@nwoisnow Yup, use the two readings to figure out your abv. Google "brewersfriend abv calculator" to get your calculation.
CraigTube 2 months ago
@CraigTube Thanks!
nwoisnow 2 months ago
@CraigTube so if you only start with say 1.02 how much more dextrose would you need to add to get it to 1.04? would you just do it trial n error by adding say half a cup at a time?
Infiniteuphorix 1 week ago
Very easy to understand video. I am starting my first batch of peach wine. I used 3 cans of peaches. I would like advice as it progresses.
texasleprechaun 2 months ago
that's water i dont think thats ok for beer
podawgs 2 months ago
@TheRivalution That scale is approximate. The actual abv level will depend on your final gravity reading.
CraigTube 2 months ago
Awesome tutorial specially about this topic which essentially will determine if your brew will be succesful or not. Great job!
eilleable 3 months ago
Thanks for the great info! I can tell you actually know what you're talking about!
msentelle1 3 months ago
no offense but initially i thought you looked like a quak, but your explanation of everything changed my mind. i really enjoyed learning from your video thank you.
southernyankee08 3 months ago
@southernyankee08 Hey, I can be quite the quak sometimes. No problem.
CraigTube 3 months ago
Great instructional video. Especially liked the hydrometer-in-isopropyl alchohol demonstration. I would have learned a lot more in High School had we learned to make beer!
fannin59 4 months ago
For this I thank you.
fragonarag 4 months ago
Very entertaining. And very helpful too. Thanks Craig!
cloverboat 4 months ago
Hey Craig! My Coopers DIY hydrometer is giving me a headache. It gives me a reading of less den 0.990, more like 0.975 in water. Most places I've checked says water has a reading of 1.000 so it going as low as that makes me wonder if it is busted or can water vary as much as that :) I never tested it in water when I recived the kit so I dont know what the "virgin" reading was, incase I got something on the Hydrometer that affects its reading. Whats your thought on this, oh Brewlord Craig :)
DrTransDickables 5 months ago
@DrTransDickables ..continueing. The hydrometer has me worried since since if its readings are waay off what it should be I cant really trust it to tell me O.G and F.G on ma beers. My Lager that has been brewing now for 6 days had a OG of 1.035 and now on day 6 shows me a reading of 1.002, wich too a novice, who has watched a lot of youtube but doesnt really have a clue sounds like a very low F.G but the amount it has shifted from O.G 1.035 seems reasonable... I'm rambling :3
DrTransDickables 5 months ago
@DrTransDickables Jesus christ, working nightshift and posting in the morning aint good.. The reading on water was ment to say 0.985 not 0.975. Cheers.
DrTransDickables 5 months ago
@DrTransDickables Mine reads 0.995 where as my glass ones read 1.000 . But yours sounds way out there. I'd ask them for a new one. They'll send you one.
CraigTube 5 months ago
@CraigTube I contacted Coopers here in Sweden today and they posted one allready. Can I just let my brew sit (its now on day 7 in the fermenter) untill I have the working hydrometer and have made two tests 24 hours apart or will it sit too long in my fermenter? They are quite quick in their deliveries so I should have it tomorrow wich meens earliest time of bottling will be on day 9. Cheers for a great show, your enthusiasm really rubs off :)
DrTransDickables 5 months ago
@DrTransDickables t's fine to let it sit until your hydrometer arrives. It will do it good.
CraigTube 5 months ago
Hey guys this is a bit embarrassing, I dropped my hydrometer in the bottle
and the glass smashed and spilled a few of those little beads. Just wanted to know i they are deadly poisonous and if I should just throw the brew away a reply would be great thanks.
benjaminxlewis 5 months ago
@benjaminxlewis I think the balls are for weight, but who knows if they were in contact with the mercury. It's scary. I'm not sure I would drink that. :(
CraigTube 5 months ago
Thatnks Craig haha, yeah my family was not keen on my using that liquid it was just pure alchohol. I just started a brewing today using a Canadian lager. I'll let you know how it goes. P.s. I got a new hydrometer lol
benjaminxlewis 5 months ago
brilliant, most of the wine books really confused me with the hydrometer. not any more though. many thanks, Lee
Trealawking 5 months ago
Nice one, video helped immensly! Just got into brewing my own and stumbled upon your video. Expertly put together too. Love the merged shots and the bloopers too! :)
egon2875 5 months ago
if u leave it too long does it not b alcohol?
thesurfguy 5 months ago
isopropanol (or Isopropyl Alcohol) is not the alcohol in your beer,wine,etc...thats ethanol.
Iamhassentme 5 months ago
Great video. In case it hasn't already been mentioned, I think I remember what causes the water to "cling" to the sides of objects. It's surface tension. Just like if you puncture a thin piece of say rubber with a pin, you'll see the same effect as the rubber "clings" to form a seal around the pin. This surface tension is what allows certain insects to walk on water. They're not heavy enough to break the surface tension. (Thanks to my many years watching Mr. Wizard!)
dcholmes1969 6 months ago
nice explain ! Thank you sir..........:)
santoshdc100 6 months ago
Good video, Craig. Thanks for taking the time.
spoiledrotten58 6 months ago
This was really informative! i like you're videos, Im currently looking into getting a coopers starter beer kit if i can find one in the UK. Also i laughed so hard at the blooper!
Ibsonlovesyou 6 months ago
Awesome video Craig I brew Coopers now and save a lot of money too. Thanks for the advice and the savings.
Iemota21 6 months ago
Fantastic video. Thank you so much
Xxsharkman423Xx 6 months ago
I'm a well-seasoned wine maker, who has watched this video a few times.
THANKS CRAIG
EnchantedAlana 6 months ago
Finally understand what I am looking at on my readings, thanks from a new fan!
pixgirlie 7 months ago
great video sir, thank you! your vids got me back into home brewing,and im not looking back. ive done the coopers dark and real ale now,both superb. ive just bottled a youngs cider and about to start another coopers real ale.just got a hydrometer today and this vid cleared everything up for me,thank you. your the man!
hobo31009 7 months ago
Thanks! Great Video
WesMakesEthanol 7 months ago
that "phenomenon" is called a meniscus :)
wilfeatscheese 7 months ago
Good job!! You saved the day for me on this one!
AlexHahn82 8 months ago
great video thanks, any plans on a video making wine?
rosasammie 8 months ago
@rosasammie I have two wine making series on my channel. Cheers.
CraigTube 8 months ago
my home brew kit says to test the alcohol content before bottled ,yeast makes alcohol when it eats sugar so how does it have alcohol befor adding yeast?? .
Spazzy4Twenty 8 months ago
@Spazzy4Twenty The hydrometer doesn't measure alcohol,It measures the potential for boyancy in a liquid based on suspended solids in the liquid. In other words before the yeast is added, there's much suspended sugar in the wort. The hydrometer will float higher in that solution. Once the yeast is added, the sugars will slowly be eaten and the hydrometer will start to float lower until it reaches it's lowest level for that brew. No alcohol is being measured, but the readings are used to calc ABV
CraigTube 8 months ago
i have been home brewing for 5 years and still learned something new
mdinc20 8 months ago
freeze the video at 8:36 to see craig smoking a bong he he
bluelagoon10023 9 months ago
@bluelagoon10023 got a chuckle with that one......hahaha
pipercub55 8 months ago
so how can i find out the alcohol content of my hard cider right after the fermentation stops.??
andrew812342 9 months ago
@andrew812342 You have to have a reading from before you added the yeast. If you don't, drink it and see what kind of buzz you get LOL.
CraigTube 9 months ago
Thanks for sharing. I wish I had seen this video before purchasing my hydrometer. then I would've bought a smaller one including a test glass.
CDRK22 9 months ago
the crest that you are talking about is called the meniscus. Its Greek.
imaservant1125 10 months ago
Found your video just in time! I'm a seasoned home brewer (3 years now), and I`ve just started using a hydrometer.
Wine`s my gig, but the info is still very, very useful!
Thanks so much.
Cheers
EnchantedAlana 11 months ago
Thanks Craig, only brewing less than a year and trying to learn the darker arts of this game so you video was a great help. Cheers Dave
IrlDave71 11 months ago
Thanks for this very helpful video - my first attempt at using the hydrometer left me a little confused. It's all very clear to me now!
cc407 11 months ago
Thanks for these videos Craig. It's good to see someone with knowledge without being snobby about it. I am fairly knowledgable about the process of brewing beer, and still learn something new from these. Thanks again, and happy brewing!
hardrocker950 1 year ago
@blitzkriegstaffords, thanks for the info about the formula!
kybourbon1 1 year ago
Oh, Craig, you are mighty terrific. You got me onto inmate brew and now I am in love not only with the finished product but the entire process. Thanks, my friend. Your videos are always a pleasure :)
losermonster 1 year ago
thanks brother! very informative vid on something that i was not totally clear on. keep up the good work.
tragicbeet 1 year ago
Thank you, thank you, thank you. I've avoided using the hydrometer until now. I'l be using it tonight.
godlessape 1 year ago
depending on the style of beer you are brewing 1.040 can be very low. kybourbon, to figure out the % of your alcohol content you take your (OG-FG) x 131.25 = alcohol %
BlitzkriegStaffords 1 year ago
Craig, this is the perfect Hydrometer video. I make wine right now and haven't used one, though now I am so curious and wish I had! I will make sure to purchase and use one in the future though.
bugsteak 1 year ago
@CraigTube, o.k. now what? you got your O.G. & F.G. readings how do you use these numbers to determine your % of alcohol. do you subtract one from the other or is their a special formula. you never explained, you just showed us how to read a hydrometer. not how to figure alcohol content. it was still a good video.
kybourbon1 1 year ago
@kybourbon1 There are formulas, but the easiest way is to find an ABV calculator online and plug in your numbers.
CraigTube 1 year ago
Your a champion Craig. This is really informative as are your other videos. I'm a subscriber now. Thanks mate from downunder
EdibleHomeGarden 1 year ago
Has anyone got any readings for when to stop/start cider???
missextreme28 1 year ago
@missextreme28
I have the same question actually.
Mfields27 1 year ago
thanks very helpfull
owens47362 1 year ago
Nice, Thanks Craig. I lost my calculator and the link was just what I needed..my son tells me that "curve" on the reading is called a "meniscus" . I know, surprised me too!
radarbrew 1 year ago
Nice, Thanks Craig. I lost my calculator and the link was just what I needed..
radarbrew 1 year ago
thanks for the post
nickh310 1 year ago
Cracking vid Craig, informative and accurate, and well presented.
Absolutely love the 2nd blooper when you turned round to the table!
I daren't admit to how many times I replayed that bit!
TheChapelMouse 1 year ago
ooooah, thanks Craig for sharing your knowledge with us, really informative with fun.
I hope to start brewing in the near future.
I last brewed about 25 years ago and I much preferred to use glass bottles bcause I found that the barrel that I used added a plastic taste to the beer. Are todays barrels any better in that respect ?
Diolch yn fawr, thanks a lot, from Wales.
segontium 1 year ago 2
@segontium I'm not having any issues with a plastic taste. Food grade containers should be just fine.
CraigTube 1 year ago
I have a question, Now in my 6.5gal carboy I have fermenting Coopers Draught. It makes 6 us gallons of beer, after carefully mesuring the water, and dme, i poured my wort in the carboy and it is showing around 6.5 gal of liquid. And I only started with 5 gal of water in the carboy and used 1/2 gallon to boil my ingredients. Is it ok that its a bit over the 6gal mark?
I tasted a sample, and it tastes fine, with a sg of 1.043. Any ideas? Cheers!
kmosh2 1 year ago
Thanks Craig, I didn't know what the heck to do with it until I saw a quarter of your vid.
Maximum007 1 year ago
i have just started wit home brew love the vids u do make it look simple ... cause it is lol wish u had a vid for priming bottles and head of the beer.
Kolamur00 1 year ago
This has been flagged as spam show
Hi Craig,
This is my first time brewing beer. As part of my kit, i received a hydrometer, but it doesn't have that scale as a normal hydrometer. It has a reading from 0 to 20.My fermentation stopped on the third day, and now on the fourth everything looks just fine, with the "hydrometer" pointing at 4. what does this mean?
vessize 1 year ago
Hi Craig,
This is my first time brewing beer. As part of my kit, i received a hydrometer, but it doesn't have that scale as a normal hydrometer. It has a reading from 0 to 20.My fermentation stopped on the third day, and now on the fourth everything looks just fine, with the "hydrometer" pointing at 4. what does this mean?
vessize 1 year ago
craig, where where you when i was at school?, i might of actually learnt something,
redsandokan 1 year ago
This has been flagged as spam show
Thanks for that tutorial. Hopefully, i will be home brewing myself in a couple of weeks...
DJsProductions1 1 year ago
Thanks for that tutorial. Hopefully i will be home brewing myself in a couple of weeks...
DJsProductions1 1 year ago
Ok I am just getting into brewing/wine making... I needed to understand the tools of the trade... This was great... I can't believe how informative this video... I think I could teach a class after viewing this... Thanks so very much...
willieleejohnson 1 year ago
craig, thank you so much for these. me and my roomate just made our first brew. and we watched a number of your videos in preparation! keep up the good work.
underpoweredpop 1 year ago
yes mate. I am using the lager that came in the kit. It is sitting at around 20 to 22 degrees c. Thank you for you help. Regards mark.
TheMarks82 1 year ago
hello Craig,
I have recently purchase a coopers home brew kit and have found your videos very helpful. my brew has been fermenting for a few days now. all signs are looking good except no activity in the airlock and have checked for leaks. I have watched your airlock 101 video and am feeling ok with my brew except for when I did the OG prior to putting in the yeast I got a reading of 1.056. Is this ok. Do you think I will have a normal FG when my brew is ready for bottling. regards Mark
TheMarks82 1 year ago
@TheMarks82 Hey! That OG reading seems a little high, but that's not a bad thing. Did you do the Lager that came with the kit. If so, something might be causing a high reading, and the same might happen when it's done, so if you get 1.012 or something like that for two days in a row, you're fine to bottle. Just give it 8-10 days and it will be done, but check it anyway.
CraigTube 1 year ago
@TheMarks82 OG of 1056 is fine. Usually the more sugar/malt etc you put in the higher the OG. I jsut did a batch of IPA with OG 1058 and airlock wasnt moving. It fermented fine however. Some are very slow. You can usually see the faomy ring around top of your brew in fermenter and take the SG and see. if its 1012-1010 or so its ok. Leave it 2 days. If it reads same SG as 2 days ago its stopped and its good to bottle.
cymru3232 1 year ago
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TheMarks82 1 year ago
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TheMarks82 1 year ago
That was really helpful.. I've been reading up confusing instructions on line for the past hour, NOW I understand :-) Attempting my first home brew wine tomorrow. thanks !
moonybeams 1 year ago
Thanks for taking the time out to do this..
ukdaynes 1 year ago
really helpful! thanks :D
nilsFK 1 year ago
i've purchust a hydrometer sins waching this but mine doesn't not have nombers on the side for estimating the alcohol content can you help with the estimating
MrLoganloganlogan 1 year ago
@MrLoganloganlogan Check the link in the description area. It's the easiest way.
CraigTube 1 year ago
Hi Craig can you tell me why my wine ferment started at 1.189 at the 30th aug and 1st rack at .099 sept 5th & the ferment was only 68 / 77 degrees with the slowest gas on the planet I used 2 pks. for 23 L lalvin 1118 Tsp nutrient 3.5 L distilled water 1 reisling Piesporter premix has a kick like a pack mule I plan to rack again add my bysulfates & clearing agents @ the end of the month but WOW have you ever encountered any that fast acting the only thing I think of is the box exp mar 2011
MrMrtiki 1 year ago
dude you play the keys too? You win the award for coolest person in the world.
billyhigdon 1 year ago
Because the liquid becomes denser :)
Try it with hot and cold water, but I'm not sure if it would register as much :?
wolfy9005 1 year ago
Fantastic videos! thanks!
jonootto1 1 year ago
I've watch allot of your videos plus others i think i understand how to make beer cider and wine but can you tell me how to make things like vodka and other spirits BTW love your vids
MrLoganloganlogan 1 year ago
@MrLoganloganlogan For those, you use water, sugar and corn meal, but you can't just drink it once it's fermented. It could make you VERY sick. You have to use a distiller. Look up "how to make moonshine".
CraigTube 1 year ago
@CraigTube Hi Craig. Nice video. I was wondering if you could tell me why the moonshine method you suggested (before distillation) would make you sick, since isn't it essentially a corn-meal wine? I'm trying to make wine, not moonshine, but I really want to avoid anyone getting sick. I made a winemaking blog if that makes things any clearer. Thanks a lot.
JoneeKemp 1 year ago
@JoneeKemp Well, I'm not an expert on it but I'm told that when you ferment that much sugar with water, it can contain methyl alcohol, which can blind you. When you distill the brew, you remove the methyl because it evaporates at a lower temp than the alcohol we drink, so it dissapears first. Then you're left with the stuff that is safe, up to a point, when you have to stop distilling it because there's other dangerous stuff that evaporates at higher temps. Look up "how to make moonshine" on YT.
CraigTube 1 year ago
@JoneeKemp Part 2 Look for a video with a sexy chick in the thumbnail. She explains all of this. As far as drinking just the fermented "mash" as it's called, do it at your own risk. That's all I'm told.
CraigTube 1 year ago
I've watch allot of your videos plus others i think i understand how to make beer cider and wine but can you tell me how to make things like vodka and other spirits
MrLoganloganlogan 1 year ago
the "crest thing" is called a meniscus, isopropyl alcohol is propan-2-ol which is an isomer of propananol (has the alcohol group on the first of the3 carbons) which is nothing like the alcohol we drink (ethanol) they are completely different. not wanting to sound like a know it all just thought you might like to know
Ralphgtx280 1 year ago
Excellent job Craig! I have been home brewing for about 6 months now and truly havent been confident in reading my hydrometer until now! Great work!
Mitchell556 1 year ago
I bought the Cooper's Home Brew Kit and I have fallen in love with home brewing....The directions are simple. Yet, it does not give detailed description on using the hydrometer....your video has been very instrumental and quite educational...Thank You...this is my 2nd video I have watched of yours and I will continue to seek other videos..
Cheers....
scswanson2002 1 year ago
been brewing for years! enjoy your videos...i like your editing! very nice! I can tell you enjoy this!
kelloggfan 1 year ago
Good vid Craig.... Learnt a lot.
greenvalet 1 year ago
Awesome video. Thank you so much for sharing you knowledge!
770youngbd 1 year ago
Good stuff...... Oh.....Meniscus ! :D
GranulatedStuff 1 year ago
nice glass!
benxjamin 1 year ago
@benxjamin Thanks. It got broken unfortunately. :(
CraigTube 1 year ago
lol @12:44 Bahahaha
benlyons83 1 year ago
quirky dude. thoroughly amused. also learned how to use a hydrometer
steevix9 1 year ago
Thank u Craig!!! Love the Bloopers!!!!
gjmuller242 1 year ago
Craig! That was a realy great video. Thanks so much for the info. Top job.
EskimoAir 1 year ago
This has been flagged as spam show
Thanks for the info on the hydrometer. I found some hydrometers and test jars at good prices on AlcoholControls. com in the liquor controls section.
UTubeFlash 1 year ago
Thanks for the info on the hydrometer. I found some hydrometers and test jars at good prices on AlcoholControls. com in the liquor controls section.
UTubeFlash 1 year ago
Exactly what I needed. Thanks.
rezinsauce 1 year ago
Must be some good beer to keep you laughing! I am usually holding my tongue trying not to cuss when I spill stuff like that. lol
kuernodechivo 1 year ago
Hi Craig!
Thank you for al the information.
I watch your video's a lot, i am brewing beer at home to.
Keep up the good work and greetings from Holland :-)
Cheers!
homebeerbrewery 1 year ago
Excellent video..Love all your videos man, very knowledgeable...BTW.. lmao @ the bloopers!! XD
underpantswedgy 1 year ago
great video
dropdeadfred30 1 year ago
Thanks so Much Craig I was totally Baffled by the Hydrometer but not any more my first batch due to be bottled tomorrow 04/11/10 keeping my fingers crossed so far so good, thanks again
mopac88 1 year ago
Your videos are awesome! You make home brewing so appealing that I have started to do so myself. Thank you for sharing your talents, humor, and appreciation for home brew with everyone!
spoof1011 1 year ago
Great video! been looking to understand.You nailed it. Thanks
beerdrinker134 1 year ago
Your vids make me thirsty !
Ekogen 1 year ago
thanx man that has made it more clear for me i think i know what to do now. your vids are clear on what we need to do with little jargen. iam doing my first berw i will let ya know how i get on, wuddz in the UK.
MrWuddz 1 year ago
Good job, you were prob laughin so hard at the end of video cause you were so damn drunk off of drinkin all that homemade frosty brew you make!! ha ha
581u812 1 year ago
Great video for a beginning brewer. Thanks!! Keep them coming
cbaumTube 1 year ago
Thank You! Very helpful for a long-time beer lover, first time brewer! (ME!)
1980georgeg 1 year ago
Thanks Man.....Spot on Info...
SMacEwan 1 year ago
Thank you for this video. Before I watched this video I did not know why the hell I paid what I did for my Hydrometer...but now I know. thanks!
Dillonfromforks 2 years ago
@Dillonfromforks me too hahaha
n1ck02k1 1 year ago
what is a brix scale?
ninjaryder1st 2 years ago
I believe the word you are looking for is meniscus.... take your reading from the bottom of the water meniscus
ninjaryder1st 2 years ago
this is the best i have ever seen about hydrometres that i was looking since my work is highly related to hydrometers since i use it to determine API of crude oil
aeacfm 2 years ago
I'm just getting into homebrewing and started my first experimental batch of wine. How do I achieve more alcohol content at the end of fermentation? Add sugar to my must till the hydrometer reads a desired potential alcohol level?
fatsachs 2 years ago
That will work.
CraigTube 2 years ago
Great video Craig. How can you calculate where the reading should be after the fermenting is done?
For example, you have a OG of 1.090, what calculation can you do to estimate where it should end up?.
Someone on you tube was saying you divide the OG reading by 4 to give you the ideal final reading. That sounds rubbish to me.
urainusishere 2 years ago
I believe it should be as close to 1.000 as possible for beer, and 0.992 for wine.
CraigTube 2 years ago
Great video. You answered all the questions I had.
BTW what is the ABV of the Coopers home brew? Looks like you where having fun.
aldenlandscapes 2 years ago
About 5%
CraigTube 2 years ago
thank you for this .
cantfeelnothing 2 years ago
another exxecellent video.thanks
hunterhuck 2 years ago
Extremely informative. Thanks Craig. You sound like a Canuck. If I'm wrong, sorry, but if I'm right..."Take off you hoser...Ehh?" Just kidding.
One thing, though, I can't believe you never mentioned the word, "density". The fermentation process demonstrates the beauty of nature in it's magnificent glory. The principles of density in action.
Coopers looks awesome. Keep up the good work.
SoCalFlyer 2 years ago
you just gave me a practical joke idea. Fermented sugar water that's colored like beer.
Flare1728 2 years ago
Great Video, very descriptive until the mention of putting the hydrometor in the brew. Infection?
Then Coopers Real Ale. I was going to give this 5 stars, until then. If you can source a Coopers IPA, do so.
hbg1968 2 years ago
I just bought myself an "Oechsle scale" hydrometer and I'm wondering if there is any sagnificant difference between the Oechsle scale and other types of hydrometer scales? And do you know if the Oechsle scale is good for checking the SG of beer?
Love your videos by the way!
sleepwhenyourdeadplx 2 years ago
Excellent!
Muzik2MaEarz 2 years ago
thanks for the vids btw found them very informative
MarkC2010 2 years ago
ive seen arount the net that if you take the OG and subtract the FG then divide this by 7.36 you get the alcohol content. is this correct
MarkC2010 2 years ago
If memory serves me correctly, yes that's the number. I don't use that tho, my hydrometer has potential alcohol markings on it so I know what it's going to be before I pitch the yeast, providing it ferments down normally.
CraigTube 2 years ago
Response to 7:25
i swam in a pool of alcohol at the college frat party - the courtyard was 4 inches deep in a cocktail of beer punch piss and probly spew - as far as i know nobody drowned!
DocBrewster 2 years ago
HiCraig,thanks very muchos,this video did help me with some questions I had with my first CoopersBrew !!Actually you answered99% of questions I had including the one about the"Meniscus"the"Clinging"of the beer to the Hydrometer.One question I didhave w