Refractometer - I want one

[maxashton]

Gotta say, from the dialog i thought it was going to be the resident catatonic drunk.

[johnmac]

I've ordered one of these http://www.refractometershop.com/eline.html (0-18%)

they do free delivery.

SteveD, you've just cost me fourty quid. Appropriate, really, because your picture reminds me of Gordon Brown

[Seveneer]

You may find that 18 Brix (1.075) is a little low if you want to measure the gravity of your first runnings on bigger beers. I think the 0-32 would have been a better option.

That said, I think Andy uses a 0-18 to good effect.

[Andy]

Yes, I've got the 0-18% job and don't bother measuring first runnings as it's off the scale - but I'm not particularly interested in first runnings gravity

However I've recently become intrigued by some of the big gravity Durden Park beers, some of which have OG values > 1072 (which is the limit of the 18% refractometer) so I may be compromised in that area.

[norman]

Looks like the same model.
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Portable-0-32-ATC ... dZViewItem

[johnmac]

I think Andy's advice is sound: I want know when to stop sparging and what the OG of my beer is, so 0-18 is the range I'll be working on. I'm avoiding strong beers because I don't think I could be trusted with them
As Norman pointed out, I could have got 0-32 much cheaper. But I what the hell - it should last a lifetime!

[Seveneer]

I think you're right to keep Andy's experience in mind. A 0-18 refractometer will be good for all but the biggest of beers. In fact it may well have better acccuracy around the gravity of the majority of our beers than my 0-32.

As everything, it's horses for courses but I want the ability to measure big gravity beers

/Phil.

[tribs]

I fancy a refracto and you made me wonder whether a 32 or 18 would be best.

I've looked into it and I'm wondering whether ideally you'd have both. The 32 for OGs when brewing big beers. The Aventinus clone I recently brewed was 1.080 and would have required the 32. However when you are measuring final gravity each brix is around 6 points for a 1.060 beer, and judging by the example scales for the 32s that I've seen it would be very difficult to see an accuracy to less than half a brix (~3pts) which is not ideal. Maybe you could clear this up 7eer?

[johnmac]

If I ever do want to make some rocket fuel, I'll go back to the hydrometer on those rare occasions.

[Seveneer]

when you are measuring final gravity each brix is around 6 points for a 1.060 beer, and judging by the example scales for the 32s that I've seen it would be very difficult to see an accuracy to less than half a brix (~3pts) which is not ideal. Maybe you could clear this up 7eer?

Mine has 0.2 Brix graduations and if you get a good, clean sample with no bubbles you can normally read it to that degree (you may even be able to approximate to 0.1 Brix). That is good enough for what we are after. Of course the 0-18 will be graduated to 0.1 Brix so you could say that your accuracy is doubled.

That said, these are fairly cheap refractometers so I would expect that accuracy to 0.2/0.1 Brix is perhaps optimistic anyway. Would you not agree?

/Phil.

[johnmac]

I struggle to get any accuracy with a hydrometer, what with foam and the meniscus.

[tribs]

Mine has 0.2 Brix graduations and if you get a good, clean sample with no bubbles you can normally read it to that degree (you may even be able to approximate to 0.1 Brix). That is good enough for what we are after.

Agreed. 32 it is. Cheers

[johnmac]

Refractometer arrived today. I can read it to 1/4 brix, so it should be way better than a hydrometer. I'll try it out on a Holdens Mild tomorrow.

[Seveneer]

Good work, johnmac. You'll find it an absolute revelation

/Phil.