| A hydrometer is an indispensable tool in the | | | | you must measure the PA at the beginning of |
| winemaker's arsenal. Hydrometers are used at | | | | fermentation and also again at the end. An |
| different stages in the wine making process, and | | | | example might help here. Suppose you measure |
| by learning what your hydrometer is saying you'll | | | | the PA of your juice at 14 % when beginning |
| be able to refine your wine making techniques. | | | | fermentation. This reading means that "potentially" |
| Basically, the heavier, or denser a liquid is, the | | | | you can get 14% alcohol from your juice. But not |
| higher the hydrometer will float. When just | | | | all fermentation use up every bit of sugar. If you |
| starting a batch of wine, the juice is "thick" with | | | | take a reading when fermentation is complete and |
| sugars. When fermentation occurs the juice goes | | | | the PA is 1%, then your wine has 13% alcohol, |
| from the thicker, syrupy consistency to a thinner | | | | the difference between the two readings. |
| liquid containing more alcohol. Thus, a hydrometer | | | | Another scale on most hydrometers is Brix, also |
| will float at different levels all throughout a | | | | known as Balling. This is usually used by advanced |
| fermentation as the liquid goes from "thicker" to | | | | wine makers and also commercial wineries. The |
| "thinner". | | | | Brix scale shows the percentage of sugar in the |
| Specific Gravity is one scale on your hydrometer. | | | | juice by weight. For instance, if you have a |
| This scale is based on the weight of water. A | | | | reading of 22 on the Brix scale, that means the |
| hydrometer floating in water will have a specific | | | | juice is made up of 22% sugar by weight. |
| gravity of 1.000 When you start a batch of wine | | | | Wineries will use this scale to determine that their |
| a typical specific gravity reading will be around | | | | juice can produce the percentage of alcohol they |
| 1.080. At that point the juice is 8 percent thicker | | | | desire. |
| than water. When fermentation is complete, the | | | | A hydrometer is a very useful tool for the |
| reading will be around 0.995, meaning that the | | | | homemade winemaker. The more you use one |
| sugar has been turned into alcohol and the juice is | | | | the more familiar you'll become with the various |
| now thinner than water. | | | | scales and how powerful their information they |
| Another scale on your hydrometer is potential | | | | provide can be. |
| alcohol (PA). To arrive at potential alcohol readings | | | | |