Higher alcohol as estimated?

[CidersWine]

Hi All,

I am new to cider and wine making and just thought of making some cider out of applejuice (storebought). I paid attention that no acids were present etcetera. I filled one 75cl bottle with 46 grams of sugar and 5 gr of yeast (OG 1.080) and another with 75gr sugar and 5 gr yeast (OG 1.110). Now after a few weeks I measured with my refractometer (https://www.amazon.nl/dp/B09JZJ3JTZ...BBAVPMG0VF17F6Y_1&starsLeft=1&skipTwisterOG=1) a percentage of alcohol (my hydrometer broke). Bottle 1; 18% and Bottle 2; 20%. Now, if I am correct and this refractometer doesn't measure in bricks, my hydrometer test aimed for 10 and 14% alcohol. How is it possible that it went way over the amount aimed at?

Thanks!

 

[MashBag]

Don't really understand what you are making, but Refractometers won't read alc.

 

[Agentgonzo]

You can use a refractometer to calculate the ABV, but you need to know the initial brix, read the final brix value and then put it through a calculation.

https://www.brewersfriend.com/refractometer-calculator/

 

[MashBag]

... And then it's a close estimate (or it was the only time I tried it... wasn't the same as og-fg)