E04: Brewbrain Float, living with Krausen Volatility
Channel: Mountain Parameters
Date: 2021-02-10

When you start to monitor your first brew's progress with the Brewbrain Float, on the specific gravity graph you start to notice a period of volatility in the specific gravity readings that corresponds to the most active stage of fermentation when there is the most prolific build-up of Krausen.

Checking the progress of a number of other public brew's that are posted on the Brewbrain site, you note that this seems to be a common occurrence. We see that there are spikes in Specific Gravity that cannot reflect accurate measurement. 

The Float can be affected primarily by interference in the wort caused by metabolic turbulence, and secondarily, by subsequent adhesion of hop detritus to the hydrometer case. Accurate readings should return when the vigorous part of the fermentation dies down, as long as there is not too much residual detritus left on the body of the Float.

Timeline:
00:00 Looking at the SG graph for my current brew and flagging the spikes in SG
01:30 Comparing SG graphs from different brews that use the Float for similar spikes in volatility during active metabolic phase.
04:00 Close up video, looking at active turbulence from fermentation in the wort.
04:15 Is my Float faulty? Summation and conclusions.

The Float can be sourced at: brewbrain.ca