Refractometer

[markp]

I am not happy with my hydrometer, so I have decided to treat myself to a refractometer.....well, actually SHMBO is treating me for Christmas, bless :clap:

I came across THIS and wondered if it would suit my needs?
Can anyone advise please?

Many thanks

 

[Muddydisco]

You reaaly need 0 -32 brix as I went higher than 32brix scale today with my Imperial stout!

 

[Aleman]

Actually as most of my beers are below 1.080 I got myself a 20 Brix one, and although a 32 brix one might be useful for bigger beers its not essential.

 

[leondz]

What's good for measuring wine alcohol content more accurately?

 

[Aleman]

An Ebulliometer . . . Just don't ask the price :shock:

 

[markp]

Thanks guys.

So, THIS would be better??

I don't really want to spend a fortune, just need something that will do the job adequately for the amauture :lol:
ANy other recommendations?

 

[prolix]

I have an 0-18 and it is great as beers above 1072 rarely get made here and if they do for the once a year I would use my hydrometer. First runnings go off the chart but thats not important it is last runnigs brix of 2 and OG brix of 10 to 12 normally for me that matter and the 0-18 has an easier scale to read at normal beer gravities

 

[Zwickel]

I have an 0-18 and it is great as beers above 1072 rarely get made here and if they do for the once a year I would use my hydrometer. First runnings go off the chart but thats not important it is last runnigs brix of 2 and OG brix of 10 to 12 normally for me that matter and the 0-18 has an easier scale to read at normal beer gravities

I second that.
I´m using a 0-18 Brix as well and find it very handy.

But forget about the refractometer when alcohol comes into the game.

Cheers :

 

[EskiBrew]

But forget about the refractometer when alcohol comes into the game.

If you know the starting gravity before fermentation begins then you can calculate the gravity even when there is alcohol present. I really ought to add a calculator to the calculators section to do just that.

 

[Zwickel]

But forget about the refractometer when alcohol comes into the game.

If you know the starting gravity before fermentation begins then you can calculate the gravity even when there is alcohol present. I really ought to add a calculator to the calculators section to do just that.

sorry mate, there are plenty of calculaters for refractometers on the net, none of them is even close to accurate.

When the fermentation has started, that´s just a guess-o-meter any longer

So I´m using my refractometer only to determine the starting gravity.

Cheers :

 

[Vossy1]

Save yourself some money Mark and have a look on e-bay, there are quite a few 0-32 that are ending today and they'll go for about £20 :thumb:

 

[EskiBrew]

sorry mate, there are plenty of calculaters for refractometers on the net, none of them is even close to accurate.

I've not used one myself so I can't comment on accuracy :whistle:

Here's a link to some more info in an article

 

[Zwickel]

I really love my refractometer and I don´t need to know how much alcohol is produced during fermentation. If I wanna know the alcohol in the final beer product, I´d take a hydrometer.

Most of the time I´m only interested in to know how the starting gravity was; thatfor the refractometer is a great device.

I have tried out some calculaters, such as is implimented in promash and others. None of them was even close to the real value. So I gave up.

I´m writing this only for people they have too high expectations about the usage of a refractometer.

Cheers mates

 

[Aleman]

A refractometer is useful during fermentation . . . if the reading is still changing (mostly dropping) then fermentation is still happening . . . when you get a stable reading fermentation is finished.

I use it for OG at start of fermentation . . . checking teh progress of fermentations (as above) and in conjunction with my accurate hydrometer (0.990 - 1.050 in 0.0005 divisions) to determine the % alcohol in the finished beer. From what I have found the values during fermentation tend to be on the high side compared to a hydrometer, 1.0235 hydrometer 1.026 according to the calculated value from the refractometer, so not wildly inaccurate but not spot on either.

The real benefit of a refractometer is during sparging, and being able to stop exactly when you have collected enough fermentables for the beer you are making

 

[Vossy1]

Did you get one Mark?

 

[markp]

I'm ordering one today Vossy.
I've been a bit bewildered by choice.

I'll post up what I plumped for later.

ATB

 

[evanvine]

I have a rather old, non temperature compensating one.
It is graduated in % sugar, 0 – 27%.
10% being approx 1.036.
I got it for my grapes as you can measure the sugar content of 1 grape.
I think they are only really good for a very fast rough and ready check on the state of play.
Wouldn’t be without it though.

 

[markp]

In the end I decided to get the very first one I posted about in this thread.
The missus did not want to put her faith in US or Chinese sellers this clsoe to Christmas, so we may have paid a little more than necessary.

Another factor in my decision; was that the scale on the one I've bought seemed the easiest to read.

I chose an 18 brix model as I will very rarely make big beers.

Thanks to everyone for their comments and help.