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A use for removed sample

Post #1 made 10 years ago
by ShorePoints
After measuring the Specific Gravity of the wort that will go into an opaque primary fermentation vessel, what does one do with it after tasting? I do not return it to the main batch. The ~200 mL sample goes into this clear container fitted with a bubbler.
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I usually add the last dregs from the yeast container, whatever that was - bag, tube or starter jar - not worrying about cell count here. It also doesn't have to be the exact same yeast as the rest if I want to experiment with something harvested from a different source. I keep the sample on top of the FV so that it experiences similar temperatures and I can watch the Krausen develop and later clear. If I add more to it, I can later use the same or different priming sugar before bottling this one-off.
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Last edited by ShorePoints on 20 Dec 2014, 01:55, edited 1 time in total.
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A use for removed sample

Post #3 made 10 years ago
by ShorePoints
So far, no. But I did get to compare using honey (sample prepped separately) as conditioning sugar instead of dextrose. While that single sample was good, I'm not going for it on 20 Liter scale. The picture shows white Krausen from a yeast harvested from the bottom of a bottle of cherry flavored breakfast beer. I doubt if that's getting scaled up, but we'll see. I get your point about making this a practical pilot experiment for use on a larger batch. I might restrain myself to more conservative combinations that could be put to use, but for now it is fun to see what it can do. Someday I could take a small batch of wort and use 16 of these at once to do experimental design and crunch numbers.... I'll think about it while I brew my next beer.


Shore Points
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Post #4 made 10 years ago
by PistolPatch
Remember SP that there is no need to be absolutely paranoid about returning your sample to the wort pre-pitching. We tend to get a bit scared of this when there are other things to be more scared of.

If you sanitise your hydrometer jar and your hydrometer nicely before taking a reading, there is really no problem pouring that sample back in (assuming you haven't had a taste). What I'm saying is that there is no difference between that and someone pouring a cube of wort into a fermentor from a height or, in fact, someone shaking a fermentor to aerate it just before pitching.

See what I mean?

If your volatile environment does not contain a lot of wild yeast then it is really more the stagnant harbours of nasties that will cause you grief - in other words, the more parts in your system, the more scared you should be.

:)
PP
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Post #5 made 10 years ago
by ShorePoints
Thaks, PP. As always, you have a good point. Old habit of - a sample pulled for an in-process assay in my line of work never went back into the main batch. There were lots of strong sentiments as to what "lot number" it might get assigned and boy, is just brewing beer more fun than that. As long as I have something to do with it that is interesting, I will take a look at what can be done with that bit. I used to investigate impurities. This way I can make some new ones of my own.
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Post #6 made 10 years ago
by PistolPatch
I should have said I think that is great that you are experimenting SP :thumbs:. Just wanted to make sure that you knew that the sample could still go back in if necessary. Good stuff.
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Post #7 made 10 years ago
by goulaigan
An interesting idea even if to just monitor the progress of the batch without having to check on it, as this should ferment approximately in the same amount of time (if you use the same yeast I suppose). The approach I take now is any readings I need after brewday I just throw the sanitized hydrometer in the fermentor. I still remove samples on brewday of course as hydrometers and boiling wort are not a good mix, but post brewday it seems to work well. I figure there isn't much difference in putting a sanitized siphon in there compared to just tossing in the hydro, still gotta open the lid either way... I ferment in buckets, guess this would be a bit more difficult in a carboy...
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Post #8 made 10 years ago
by Rick
goulaigan wrote:An interesting idea even if to just monitor the progress of the batch without having to check on it, as this should ferment approximately in the same amount of time (if you use the same yeast I suppose). The approach I take now is any readings I need after brewday I just throw the sanitized hydrometer in the fermentor. I still remove samples on brewday of course as hydrometers and boiling wort are not a good mix, but post brewday it seems to work well. I figure there isn't much difference in putting a sanitized siphon in there compared to just tossing in the hydro, still gotta open the lid either way... I ferment in buckets, guess this would be a bit more difficult in a carboy...
My only issue here, is I've had a few hydrometers break on me at unexpected times. Possibly stemming from hairline cracks that I could not see. If one broke in my fermenter, I'd have to toss the whole batch to ensure nobody was drinking shards of glass. Can't bring myself to do it, although it would be super convenient.
Last edited by Rick on 02 Jan 2015, 20:59, edited 1 time in total.
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Post #9 made 10 years ago
by joshua
Rick, I have had the Same Problem.

Now, I am working with a Refractometer, Not as great as A Hydrometer, but, Safer.
Honest Officer, I swear to Drunk, I am Not God.
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Post #10 made 10 years ago
by goulaigan
A valid point Rick, the only one I ever had break was when I found one of my sons playing with it (inside its protective case thankfully). Think I will continue living on the edge here tho, its possible of course it could break in there, but I gently place it in the center of the bucket, and the only thing it touches is the beer and my sanitized fingers... Someday I will probably go the refractometer route...
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