Gravity question

[Bradfordlad]

Hello. Last week i brewed a Coopers IPA kit for the very first time. (i am waiting for the ingredients for an extract brew and got impatient).
OG was reading 1045, FG has been reading 1005 for the last couple of day. I have racked it to a secondary FV and added 40g of cascade hops. Gonna leave it another week then barrel it.

Does all this sound right? Particularly the Gravity readings. Worried my Hydrometer may be dodgy, but how can you tell?

Cheers

[Bradfordlad]

........and another question.

When I racked my brew into a secondary FV I noticed "the stuff" at the bottom of the primary FV. Can this be used as a yeast starter for another brew? If i wanted to? Which I dont. I just like to know these things

[oldtom]

The gravity did fall a little quickly but the hot weather will explain this. The start and finish gravity sound spot on.

To check your hydrometer put it in water at 21 c and it should read 1.000. If it does then it`s fine.

The trub, the stuff at the bottom, will contain viable yeast cells but there`s a lot of dead cells and oyher things that would carry over unwanted tastes to your next brew. The trub can be washed to recover more live cells and get rid of most of the unwanted stuff but IMO it`s more bother than it`s worth for kit brewers.
There`s plenty of information on yeast washing on the site if you want to look for it.

Paul.

[Bradfordlad]

Cheers Paul, that puts my mind at ease. been away all week so wasn't sure what temps have been holding at.
As for the yeast question...........just wondered really. For now i will stick to buying yeast to suit the brew ( i am starting extract/partial mash next week)