Glass carboy for primary

[cyto]

After 5 years my plastic "ale pail" is worn out. I want to replace it with a 6 1/2 gal glass carboy (I already use one for secondary fermentation), my question is: How do you get the hydrometer and thermometer in and out of the carboy to check the beer?

[BillyBock]

For temperature, you can get one of those stick-on fermometers. For checking gravity, there's a product called the Wine Thief that allows you to take a sample by immersing the rod and floating the hydrometer inside the rod.

Another method is to check the gravity at racking to the secondary. Rack when you don't see a krausen ring at the surface of the beer anymore--that's a visual indication the primary is done.

v/r
Bill