Instructions

1. Take an initial reading with your hydrometer before the fermentation process begins. Sanitize the hydrometer and place it on a flat surface. Draw a sample of clean beer from the brewing container. Do not take any solid particles. Fill the test jar on the hydrometer 80 percent full. The test jar should be slightly larger in diameter than your hydrometer.

2. Lower the hydrometer into the jar and spin it to release any bubbles that may be clinging to the sides of the jar or to the bottom of the hydrometer. When the hydrometer is floating in the jar without touching the edges of the container, take the reading. This is done by looking at the surface level of the liquid and reading the potential alcohol scale on the hydrometer. Record this measurement.

3. Take another reading after your beer is done fermenting. Follow the same procedure as before to take the reading. Subtract the potential alcohol reading after fermentation from the potential alcohol reading before fermentation. This number is the percentage of alcohol in your beer. For example, if the reading was 13 percent before fermentation and 2 percent after, your beer has an 11 percent alcohol content.