Okay, the Hydrometer (water meter)
is used to measure the specific gravity
of fluids, using pure water as a base line.Anything dissolved in water changes
its specific gravity. You can tell if
water has had sugar or salt dissolved
in it by tasting it. The Hydrometer can
tell you how much (like your tastebuds
can't?).In Brewing you start with pure water
(if it comes from the tap it should be boiled
to release the gases, chlorine, fluorine etc.,
before using it for brewing, since it has to
to be hot anyway, this isn't a problem),
and or a fruit or vegetable juice.
Adding sugary substances to water
increases its gravity, just as a fruit juice
will natural have a higher gravity than
water.As the brew ferments, the sugars converted
to alcohol, the gravity decreases to below
that of what the fluid had to start with.Checking the gravity at the beginning and
frequently checking through out tells you
where you are, in the brewing process as
well as giving you a rough idea of the
percentage of alcohol your final product
has.I use a chicken egg.
Wash it very well before using to remove
harmful bacteria (chickens are deadly).Put a couple of cups of the stuff you're brewing
into a coffee cup, or similar vessel, before
adding the yeast. Place the egg pointy side down
into the cup and note how high it floats. You can
even use a marker to "mark" how much of
the egg is above the surface.Hopefully you won't eat this egg before your brew
is done, because as the amount of sugar decreases
the egg will sit lower in the cup.That is to say, check your brew by pouring a cup
of it and setting your egg in it.There will be a visible difference between where
the egg floated at the beginning and where floats
at the end. After using it a few times, coupled
with your own sense of taste and smell, you won't need
a commercial Hydrometer unless you're also keeping
a tank full of saltwater fish, is which case disregard
this post (or try using the egg in your fish tank.
