"Hey all---

First of all, Im not very versed on SGs, and my new hydrometer does not have that scale, so Ill refer by ABV and proof. Boiled 5 lbs sugar and 1 can of tomato paste into about 2.5 gallons water, added 2.5 more gallons of cold, bringing water temp to 75F. Pitched about 4 oz of standard generic distillers yeast, gently stirred in. That was about 2 1/2 days ago. As of yet, I have absolutely NO ABV (its actually giving a LESS than zero proof reading) showing in the mash, although Im confused because it is still bubbling (somewhat). First time with new hydrometer, so I tested some tequila, and its accurate.

Some details....

I have done this mash EXACTLY the same way numerous other times, using the same yeast, have been able to get about 8% fermentation. Mash has been indoors, as has the yeast. Yeast is about a year and a half old, I bought about 6 5oz jars at the same time. Its crossed my mind that the yeast is dead, but Im second guessing it, as I just ran an 8% mash from the same yeast batch about 2 weeks ago.

Thoughts, folks?"

"You are really jumping the gun here homey....by that I mean you said its fermenting so that's great, leave it alone for a few more days but just keep an eye on it. There's really nothing to do now but wait.
I think dieselduo is right, it sounds like you used a alcohol meter (which is called a hydrometer too) but you need a tralle gauge ( beer and wine hydrometer) I'm pretty sure there's no way to accuratley measure the ABV of a wash other than - take a OG reading and then take a FG reading (after fermentation is finished) and subtract the two and you have a % ABV --roughly anyway. Now you are gonna distill this anyway so no worries...once you've distilled this the hydro you have now will come into play."

Hello Tracyman. OG is Original or Opening Gravity. Before adding yeast. FG is Final Gravity. After gravity has stopped dropping for a couple days. All of these are taking the SG or Specific Gravity of your wash or any liquids for that matter.

Little confused here, I checked my SG yesterday morning, it was at 1.010, about 3% potential ABV. I checked it again this morning, and its at 1.000, and dead on at 0% ABV. Ive never checked SG until this mash, Ive always gone off when the bubbles stopped. How can this be normal?

Remember, what you have listed is potential alcohol, not existing alcohol. It is the amount of potential remaining, so it should start high and work its way down as fermentation progresses.

"

So My SG Hydro reading (First shine batch ever)is below 1. This is OK? I pulled it off the Yeasties and have it waiting in a secondary. Is their a target here?
Archie"