Russian imperial stout critical feedback required please

[Shanna]

Hi Tube

How do you accurately measure the gravity at temperature when you have 60C wort? As for lessons learned I have nearly a dozen from last night's/this mornings effort.  No 1 is get enough sleep so that you don't make silly mistakes.  I was covering the kettle on the belief that it would more efficient from an electricity point of view.  It also wad that two kettles elements produce some amount of steam. 

But I digress I have learned a load from the last 24 hours and also that people in the forum go above and beyond to help.  Appreciate this.

Shanna

[Shanna]

Doh, sometimes I wonder why things are so simple but not so obvious. Another tip squared away for future use.

Other thing I have learned is that the temp reported by the thermometer in sight glass is not representative of the entire 50ltrv container. I used the immersion cooler this morning to drop the temp of the wort down to 25c yet when I measured a sample of it from the bottom of the kettle it was closer to 30c. I suspect this is because the immersion chiller does not reach the bottom of the kettle due to it being too elder and snagging on the kettle elements. 

Thanks again.

Shanna

[Ciderhead]

Brenmurph put me onto one of these
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Infrared-Thermometer-Digital-IR-High-Temperature-meter-/110839491932?ssPageName=ADME:L:OC:IE:3160
Thought it was going to be rubbish, amazingly accurate and great for measuring temp differentials especially for my lager worts and my starters and my HLT strike temp and confirmation of my mash temps, and when the kids are sick and ..... Brendan!

[Will_D]

How do you accurately measure the gravity at temperature when you have 60C wort?

I use a refractometer, just need one drop!

These are great at the mashing, sparging, boiling start of the  beer. They need compensation and become less acuurate as fermentation progresses. Use a hydrometer then

But for hot wort they are the Dogs!!

[Metattron]

I have a refractometer myself and find it a bit of a PITA.  It's not as accurate as a hydrometer and you need to do calcultations for fermented beer to get the FG.  For getting gravity at temperature I use this site:  http://dd26943.com/davesdreaded/tools/convert.htm

Stick in you temp (in F) and your measured gravity and it will tell you the actual gravity.  Very useful.  Plan is to add tools like this to our site, when we get the time...

[beerfly]

the refractometer is very handy as will said for quick readings on the brew day. i always double check with a hydrometer before pitching and am always within a few points. im sure im a point or two off on the hydrometer too with foam and meniscus.  my refractometer has a brix and sg scale.  if you see one going cheap i think its worth picking up
i only use a hydrometer for OG dont think i would trust the conversion to be right.

[rukkus]

Check out beersmith mobile for hydrometer adjustment. Handy for on the spot measurements.