If you quiz a home brewer about the most best components in homebrew kits for their pastime, the most typical answers you'd uncover would be: the fermenter, ingredients (such as hops, malt syrup, and yeast), and then an item called a hydrometer.
What Is A Hydrometer?
A hydrometer is a tool for determining the density or "specific gravity" of a liquid. You use the hydrometer to see how heavy (the specific gravity) the brewed liquid is compared to everyday water. The heaviness of the brew is caused by how much sugar has been used by the yeast during the fermentation growth.
You want to learn what this reading is to tell when your homebrew is fully fermented. And once this has occurred, you can then bottle the brew and shortly thereafter test drinking what you have made.
How Do You Benefit From A Hydrometer?
The process is very easy, and doesn't take long to understand. To begin with, fill a mason jar (or anything similar with vertical sides) 2/3 full of water. Make sure this water is close to 60 degrees Fahrenheit. Next, place the hydrometer into the water. It will bob up and down for a minute, and then balance out. The reading should be 1.000 (or very close to this reading). Once you have verified this reading, take the hydrometer out of the jar and dry it off.
After, take an extra jar and fill it to 2/3 full with your homebrew. Once again, set the hydrometer into the brew, allow it to bob around until balanced out, and review your new reading. Fermentation is still occurring if the reading is more than 1.015, but it is close to fruition when the hydrometer reads between 1.010 and 1.008.
That is only for sugar -- honey, malt extracts, and numerous other brewing ingredients all have slightly different results. When you're brewing beer, there are a lot of variables you need to account for. That's why it is essential for beginners to use beer kits, so that the details have all been worked out for you.
To assure fermentation has finished, take dual readings over 24 hours. If the readings match, your brew is ready to be bottled. If it is still different, the fermentation process is still happening.
Tips
Always make positive your jars, as well as the hydrometer, are clean and dry prior to activity.
If your brew has any foam or bubbles, pour the mixture into a glass, then back into the jar, until they disappear.
Make certain your hydrometer is not touching the sides of the jar before taking your readings.
