Question regarding taking SG readings.

[jon1163]

I've taken specific gravity readings before but only on washes. I would like to on my All Grain Mashes as well but I'm running into a problem.

Before pitching my Mash is a soupy mess and filled with greens. I'm having problems filling a graduated cylinder with liquid without getting any solids in it. Also won't the thickened liquid due to the grains distort my specific gravity readings?. Also when it's fermenting after pitching I'm having serious issues with the same. How do you guys take liquid samples for specific gravity readings with such a soupy mess?

[der wo]

Filtering. The light curtain cloth is perfect. It's similar to BIAB cloth. Or cloth for cheese making.

[zapata]

+1 filter for the og. During ferment I just leave it in the wash, no it isnt accurate, but its the change I'm looking for not a true reading. For FG settling is usually sufficient though filtering would do fine. I rarely do a FG unless I suspect a problem though. From watching the one in the fermenter and watching the wash I've got a good idea whats what. And the strip run will confirm it anyway.

[BayouShine]

Patience Grasshoper...

Slow down and give your mash a chance to settle for a little while. If you're doing things right, you should have a clear layer a few inches thick form on top of the mash tun. Take your OG from that clear layer, straining out any floating grains. This will give you an accurate reading to start with.

[jon1163]

Patience Grasshopper...

Roger that Bayoushine.

Right now I have a 2" layer of grain on top. Underneath that is a 3" layer of liquid underneath that followed by about 10" of grain on the bottom. Looking forward to running this.

[jonnys_spirit]

On thick ones I'll push a mesh strainer down into the cap so the liquid flows through. Ladle out a couple hundred ml for the graduated cylinder to take reading.

Cheers!
-j

[Kareltje]

So by filtering you get enough fluid to measure its specific gravity.
But than there are the solids that take some space too. And you do not know how much space.

[der wo]

Yes. In theory you could calculate them out. Corn for example has around 20% solids. You can search for nutrition facts about your grains. Everything except carbon hydrates and water is unfermentable.

But we don't need such exact numbers normally I think.

[BayouShine]

Roger that Bayoushine.

Right now I have a 2" layer of grain on top. Underneath that is a 3" layer of liquid underneath that followed by about 10" of grain on the bottom. Looking forward to running this.

Not sure what your grain bill is, but give the cap a chance to fall back down into the fermenter. Just give it a little time.

[Truckinbutch]

On thick ones I'll push a mesh strainer down into the cap so the liquid flows through. Ladle out a couple hundred ml for the graduated cylinder to take reading.

Cheers!
-j

I , too , push a strainer into a newly cooked mash to glean a clear sample to test a SG . If I really wish to . A good cook and good conversion will give me what I need to know by taste and smell .
When the ferment finishes the cap will fall and the mash will settle enough to let you sample for FG .
When I'm using a mash or wash I am familiar with I just use taste and smell along with observation .
Nothing is ever exact from one run to the next .

[RedwoodHillBilly]

On thick ones I'll push a mesh strainer down into the cap so the liquid flows through. Ladle out a couple hundred ml for the graduated cylinder to take reading.

Cheers!
-j

I , too , push a strainer into a newly cooked mash to glean a clear sample to test a SG . If I really wish to . A good cook and good conversion will give me what I need to know by taste and smell .
When the ferment finishes the cap will fall and the mash will settle enough to let you sample for FG .
When I'm using a mash or wash I am familiar with I just use taste and smell along with observation .
Nothing is ever exact from one run to the next .

Exactly. Once you have done it couple of times, you will know where it is. If necessary, you could use a refractometer for the OG. FG is easy, just taste it.

[jon1163]

On thick ones I'll push a mesh strainer down into the cap so the liquid flows through. Ladle out a couple hundred ml for the graduated cylinder to take reading.

Cheers!
-j

I , too , push a strainer into a newly cooked mash to glean a clear sample to test a SG . If I really wish to . A good cook and good conversion will give me what I need to know by taste and smell .
When the ferment finishes the cap will fall and the mash will settle enough to let you sample for FG .
When I'm using a mash or wash I am familiar with I just use taste and smell along with observation .
Nothing is ever exact from one run to the next .

Exactly. Once you have done it couple of times, you will know where it is. If necessary, you could use a refractometer for the OG. FG is easy, just taste it.

That worked marvelously thank you guys

[Truckinbutch]

Glad we could help .