Calculating ABV - a basic question

[Alex NG]

Hello again.

I just started another kit, my second ever, and this time I actually remembered to record the SG before adding the yeast. (It was 1.049... does that sound about right for a Munton's Premium Gold - Midas Touch pale?)

What I am now confused about is when to take the reading for the Final Gravity.

Before bottling the beer, I should wait for the gravity to stabilise.... (the guide says at approx 1.014). Is this my final gravity? Is this what I use to calculate the ABV?

The reason I ask is because I thought that this might change while in the bottle?? If I prime with spray malt or sugar, and leave the beer for 4 weeks, surely it will come out of the bottle with a different gravity.... hence being a different ABV compared to when I bottled it.

I'm a bit confused about that. I hope what I've said makes sense, and maybe someone can explain it to me?

Cheers.

[scottmoss]

Hi,

Yes you are correct you do use that reading to calculate the ABV, coopers recommend adding 0.5% on to take in to account the extra sugar that you use for priming, but I know many believe that to be high and go around 0.2%-0.3%.

Scott

[Alex NG]

Hi,

Yes you are correct you do use that reading to calculate the ABV, coopers recommend adding 0.5% on to take in to account the extra sugar that you use for priming, but I know many believe that to be high and go around 0.2%-0.3%.

Scott

Cheers for that, Scott. Makes sense to me.

Like I said, the kit I've just started had an SG of 1.049; and it recommends that you bottle at 1.014. That would give an ABV of around 4.5%.... but the kit states that the beer will be Approx 5%. I guess I am expected to add on a few decimals to allow for the priming