Calcuating percent of Alcohol

[Tomy]

In my home brew log it calculates percent of alcohol using starting SG ending SG and tempature. Then it also gives a +0.5% for bottle conditioning. What is bottle conditioning and why does the percent of alcohol go up? Thanks Tomy

 

[Wade E]

Bottle conditioning s the a second fermentation that goes on in the bottles usually using corn sugar to create the carbonation. Thats why the abv goes up a little bit kind of like making a sparkling wine.

 

[Tomy]

Thanks much Wade, as I had never heard that term used in that way. Tomy

 

[Vinolozo]

Wade,
How do I calculate Alcohol content? I am at day 29 and am at the 3rd racking stage.


Penny

 

[Tomy]

Hi Penny, there should have been a table (piece of paper)wrapped around your hydrometer in side the round plastic case.There are also calculators on line using starting SG & finishing SG.SG is specific gravity which is the measurememt of how much heaver or lighter your wine is than water. Water measuring 1000 on the hydrometer scale. Tomy Edited by: Tomy

 

[Dean]

(Starting Gravity - Finished Gravity) X 131.25 = XX% Alcohol by Volume.

That's the forumla I use. Of course the online calculators do all that for you.

 

[Wade E]

I use the formula that Dean has posted and have also seen another using 134.8 as the multiplier. Doesnt change it much at all though.

 

[Dean]

Wade, I think one formula is Alcohol by Volume and the other is Alcohol by Weight. Since we usually see all commercial alcohol measured by volume, that's the one I use.

 

[Wade E]

That works for me Dean!