Refractometer

Get advice on making beer from raw ingredients (malt, hops, water and yeast)
Post Reply
User avatar
thepatchworkdoll
Piss Artist
Posts: 142
Joined: Sun Nov 10, 2013 8:11 pm

Refractometer

Post by thepatchworkdoll » Fri Aug 08, 2014 7:46 pm

Hey any of u guys use a refractometer. Purchased one recently but can't seem to get the hang of using it. Seems fine with starting gravities and measures the same as my hydrometer but at the other end it always seems to read so much higher. Can anyone explain that to me or am I missing something here. Any comments advice really appreciated.
Regards
Patch

AnthonyUK

Re: Refractometer

Post by AnthonyUK » Fri Aug 08, 2014 7:58 pm

Refractometers are not accurate when the liquid contains alcohol ;)

Mr. Dripping

Re: Refractometer

Post by Mr. Dripping » Fri Aug 08, 2014 8:00 pm

Refractometers only measure sugar content, they can't account for he alcohol.
As you say, good for starting gravity, but not for final gravity.....though you can use a conversion table to get a very close approximation. You can get even closer if you work out the correction factor that is specific to your device.

User avatar
thepatchworkdoll
Piss Artist
Posts: 142
Joined: Sun Nov 10, 2013 8:11 pm

Re: Refractometer

Post by thepatchworkdoll » Fri Aug 08, 2014 9:08 pm

Hi Mr Dripping
Can you further explain the correction factor. Any advice really appreciated.
regards
Patch

guypettigrew
Even further under the Table
Posts: 2626
Joined: Mon Mar 22, 2010 7:10 pm
Location: Christchurch, Dorset

Re: Refractometer

Post by guypettigrew » Fri Aug 08, 2014 9:57 pm

Never really understood why people want to measure anything other than starting gravity.

The OG before fermentation tells you how efficient your process has been.

Once the yeast is in the only thing to do is let it take it's course. Once the beer slows down it needs to be moved from the FV to wherever you move it to. The gravity is unimportant.

Just my thoughts!

Guy

User avatar
IPA
Under the Table
Posts: 1731
Joined: Wed Dec 07, 2011 9:29 am
Location: France Gascony

Re: Refractometer

Post by IPA » Sat Aug 09, 2014 11:31 am

guypettigrew wrote:Never really understood why people want to measure anything other than starting gravity.

The OG before fermentation tells you how efficient your process has been.

Once the yeast is in the only thing to do is let it take it's course. Once the beer slows down it needs to be moved from the FV to wherever you move it to. The gravity is unimportant.

Just my thoughts!

Guy
It helps if you want to know the alcohol content :roll:
"You're not drunk if you can lie on the floor without holding on." Dean Martin

1. Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well-preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways, thoroughly used, totally worn out and loudly proclaiming... "f*ck, what a trip

It's better to lose time with friends than to lose friends with time (Portuguese proverb)

Alone we travel faster
Together we travel further
( In an admonishing email from our golf club)

Belter

Re: Refractometer

Post by Belter » Sat Aug 09, 2014 6:22 pm

IPA wrote:
guypettigrew wrote:Never really understood why people want to measure anything other than starting gravity.

The OG before fermentation tells you how efficient your process has been.

Once the yeast is in the only thing to do is let it take it's course. Once the beer slows down it needs to be moved from the FV to wherever you move it to. The gravity is unimportant.

Just my thoughts!

Guy
It helps if you want to know the alcohol content :roll:
Also if it's finished. Fullers yeast drops like a stone. Occasionally unfinished and needs agitating.

Post Reply