spiderwrangler wrote:The other issues with hydrometers, in addition to the thorough mixing needed with extracts, is if you get a bubble underneath it, you'll read high. Gently spinning it as you place it in your test sample will help dislodge any bubbles.
+1
Bugeater wrote:It sounds like you are brewing with an extract kit. It takes a lot more stirring than you think to get the extract and water thoroughly mixed. If the extract is not mixed completely, your sample may be way off. I would also advise you to ignore the % alcohol scale on your hydrometer and go with the specific gravity scale. This will allow for much more accurate calculations of your ABV and will put you in the same of reference with the majority of beer brewers out there.
Wayne
+1
The instructions for the Belgian Wit kit show that your first reading (Original Gravity / OG) should have been between 1.042 - 1.046 and the second reading after fermentation (Final gravity / FG) should have been between 1.010 - 1.012. Like said before, clear any of the bubbles from the hydrometer, be sure to mix well and also make note of the temperature of your sample. If you followed the instructions and did not add any more fermentables and did top off to get the proper volume, you should have hit the correct readings. You might want to get some distilled water and make sure the hydrometer is calibrated (it will read 0 in distilled water if properly calibrated).
The readings you posted show that your OG was near 1.082 and your FG was 1.012ish (if reading the ABV scale). Also be sure to you are reading the hydrometer correctly - perhaps it is a triple scale hydrometer and you were reading the balling scale? If that was the case then you are actually pretty close to the right readings for the kit.
EDITED to give proper info on your readings and the fact that I've not had enough coffee yet
