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Beer and brewing mysteries

Post #1 made 13 years ago
by lambert
Things I've been wondering about for quite some time (well, couple of minutes really....)

1. Why, when you measure gravity, does a hydrometer ALWAYS stop spinning with the numbers pointing away from you? And why does it keep on turning away from you if you if you turn the jar? My daughter walked into the kitchen earlier this evening, asking me why my head was behind the measuring jar, wedged underneath the wall mounted cupboard, banging against the toaster and with half my body on the kitchen counter.

2. Why is the very last beer from a batch ALWAYS the nicest one? Below is a pic from the last of my FFAFW Cream Ale*. Brewed 6 Nov 2011. NC'ed and into fermenter 12 Nov 2011. Bottled 26 Nov 2011. The first couple of bottles ( beginning December 2011) were "interesting" - a very distinct "different" taste, most likely the flaked corn. The rest of the beer, all consumed early in January 2012, tasted flat, no character a bit rank to be honest. I had this one beer left, did not really want to drink it but decided to gulp it down (waste-not want-not mentality!). Man, it's nice. This beer has done things to itself in the bottle. So much so that I'm seriously considering brewing another 13 litre batch and leaving it for at least 3 months!
FFAFWCA.jpeg


Has anybody else experienced universal brewing truths/laws?

Lambert

*Very Far Away From Water Cream Ale - grain and IBU's based on this one http://www.beersmith.com/Recipes2/recipe_139.htm
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Last edited by lambert on 08 Feb 2012, 05:20, edited 3 times in total.
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Post #2 made 13 years ago
by hashie
Ha, ha nice topic Lambert :)

My hydrometer never wanted to play either, so I stopped using it.

Beer is a funny thing, more complex than people like to admit. I find the same beer drinks differently dependent on the food I'm having with it, or had previously.
I've also found that beer in kegs changes between the first and last beer. This can't be an age factor because I drink it to fast. I wonder if different flavours have different atomic weights and therefore some flavours sink to the bottom while others stay near the top?
"It's beer Jim, but not as we know it."

Post #4 made 13 years ago
by joshua
Good Day Lambert, my Hydrometer had the same problem I had the wrong side of the Tube facing me, I turned it around, Now it works right!
I always notice the last bottle is the best. But now I don't drink the last bottle and all is OK!
Honest Officer, I swear to Drunk, I am Not God.
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Post #5 made 13 years ago
by Lylo
I have never heard of any other kind of hydro,it is my theory that our eyes shoot some type of magnetic energy at the glass which causes it to turn away.
The beer tasting thing is my way of knowing when I am nearing the end of my keg and it is time to start chilling another.
AWOL

Post #6 made 13 years ago
by Yeasty
I had this problem with my hydro and came up with a simple solution.

1. Empty your trial jar and dry thoroughly.
2. Clean your hydrometer and also dry thoroughly.
3. Take a small piece of bluetack and roll into a ball.
4. Drop the ball of bluetack into the trial jar.
5. No push your hydro into the bluetack making sure it is well stuck to the bottom and that the numbers are facing you.
6. Now fill the trial jar until the reading on the hydro scale matchs your desired reading.

Not only does this cure the spinning hydro problem it also eliminates any calibration issues and gives you the reading you were expecting.

:shoot: :shoot:

Yeasty
Why is everyone talking about "Cheese"
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Post #8 made 13 years ago
by lambert
Yeasty wrote:I had this problem with my hydro and came up with a simple solution.

1. Empty your trial jar and dry thoroughly.
2. Clean your hydrometer and also dry thoroughly.
3. Take a small piece of bluetack and roll into a ball.
4. Drop the ball of bluetack into the trial jar.
5. No push your hydro into the bluetack making sure it is well stuck to the bottom and that the numbers are facing you.
6. Now fill the trial jar until the reading on the hydro scale matchs your desired reading.

Not only does this cure the spinning hydro problem it also eliminates any calibration issues and gives you the reading you were expecting.

:shoot: :shoot:

Yeasty
:lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:
Last edited by lambert on 08 Feb 2012, 08:18, edited 3 times in total.
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Post #9 made 13 years ago
by PistolPatch
Going to be laughing all day at this thread - good on you lambert! (I am so happy - just found some bluetack :party:. Before I always had to lift the hydro up or push it down to get the right reading but this only meant the gravity was right while I was actually holding the hydro. Very frustrating :angry:).
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Post #10 made 13 years ago
by stux
Hydrometers don't bounce.

...

I've found that the best beer in a keg is normally the one just before it blows. I suspect this is caused by additional C02 scrubbing, ageing/lagering and yeast flocculation

Yes, them damn tubes... they always spin away from you... I generally just give the hydro a small tap and a tiny twist
Fermenting: -
Cubed: -
Stirplate: -
On Tap: NS Summer Ale III (WY1272), Landlord III (WY1469), Fighter's 70/- II (WY1272), Roast Porter (WY1028), Cider, Soda
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5/7/12
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