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Beer Brewing Guide - Measuring

Beer Brewing Guide - Measuring

Reading time: 5 minutes
Precise control during the brewing process and fermentation is crucial to producing good beer. Various instruments are used to measure and monitor parameters that influence the entire process. These instruments include the beer spindle or refractometer, the thermometer and the pH meter.

Measuring the original wort content

The beer spindle and the refractometer are tools for measuring the original wort content. The beer spindle, also known as a hydrometer, enables the density of the beer wort to be measured before and after fermentation. The refractometer, on the other hand, uses the refractive behavior of light to determine the original wort content and can also precisely measure the alcohol content during fermentation. 

Refractometer

A refractometer is based on the principle of light refraction. The great advantage of this measuring instrument is that you only need one or two drops of sample and therefore have to "waste" less of your own beer. To measure your original gravity, take one or two drops of sample from your fermentation vessel. Now wet the measuring surface with the sample liquid and hold the refractometer up to the light to be able to read the value from the scale. Note that after fermentation, the measured sugar value is falsified by the alcohol and must be converted. 
You can find a refractometer calculator here.

 

Manual Refractometer 

Manual Refractometer 

 
Manual Refractometer 

 

Milwaukee MA871 

Digital Refractometer 

CDR BeerLab Jr 

System for Beer Analyzes 

ATC 

(Automatic  

temperature- 

compensation) 

 

10-30°C 

 

10-30°C 

 

10-30°C 

 

10-40°C 

 

10-40°C 

Measuring 

Range 

 

0-20% BRIX 

 

 

0-32% BRIX 

 

0-170°Oe 

0-85% BRIX 

Extensive measurement options 

(e.g. IBU, vol.%, pH, sugar, FAN) 

Accuracy 

+-0,2% BRIX 

+-0,2% BRIX 

+-1 Oe 

+-0,2% BRIX 

Varies depending on the measurement 

Field of 

application 

Beer 

Beer/Wine 

Wine 

Beer/Wine 

All beverages 

Price 

34,95€ 

34,95€ 

34,95€ 

149,95€ 

3.630€ 


Beer spindle / Hydrometer

A beer spindle, also known as a hydrometer, is a floating body that is immersed to different depths in the liquid to be measured, depending on the density or extract content. The higher the extract content, the higher the spindle floats. A beer spindle measures the sugar content of a liquid in percent by weight in the unit °P (degrees-Plato). 
To measure the original gravity with a spindle, you need a measuring cylinder that is almost full with the beer to be measured. Make sure that the sample liquid is at 20°C! When buying, you should choose the right cylinder size for the corresponding spindle. Then carefully lower the spindle into the liquid and rotate it to remove any air bubbles adhering to the spindle. As soon as the spindle stops rotating in the liquid, the original wort can be read off. 

 

Hydrometer for 

Beer Basic 

Beer Wort Meter 

0-20% 

Alcohol Meter

0-20%+°C 

Beer Wort Meter PROF 

0-20%+°C 

Alcohol Meter 

0-40% 

Size  Length & width 

22cm x 1,6cm 

22cm x 1,6cm 

22cm x 1,6cm 

37cm x 2cm 

25,5cm x 1,8 cm 

Measured unit 

Relative density (SG) 

 

Grad Plato°P 

Grad Plato°P 

Grad Plato°P 

%vol. 

Measuring Range 

0,980-1,120 

0-20°P 

0-20°P 

10-20°P 

0-40% vol. 

Thermometer 

X 

X 

 
 

 

 
 

 

X 

Price 

4,95€ 

14,95€ 

16,95€ 

26,95€ 

18,95€ 



Measuring the temperature 

Thermometers are essential throughout the brewing process. They monitor the temperature of the mash during the mashing process to ensure the temperature optima of the working enzymes. They are also important during fermentation to ensure optimal yeast activity. Fluctuations can impair yeast activity and produce undesirable aromas in the beer. 
Whether you use a simple rod thermometer or a digital one, correct measurement is crucial. Try to measure the temperature while stirring to ensure a consistent temperature distribution during the measurement. Furthermore, the temperature should not be measured directly on the surface, but the temperature probe must be held as far as possible into the center of the wort. Many fermenters, such as the EasyBrew FB30, are already equipped with a thermometer to monitor the temperature during fermentation. During fermentation, the thermometer should be positioned as centrally as possible in the tank. It is best to have several thermometers, as different temperatures can occur in different parts of the fermentation tank. For example, the temperature in the cone, where the yeast collects, is warmer than in the rest of the tank due to fermentation activity.

 

Thermometer 

(Alcohol filled) 

Instand Read Thermometer 

Digitale Probe Thermometer 

Milwaukee TH300 

digital Thermometer 

with stainless steel probe 

BrewBrain Float 

(fermentation thermometer) 

Temperature range 

-10 to 110°C 

-50 to 300°C 

--40 to 200°C 

-50 to 150°C 

0-40°C 

LED-Display 

X 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(App support) 

Variance 

2 to 5°C 

+-1°C 

0,5°C-2°C 

+-0,5°C 

+-0,5°C 

Battery life 

without 

1 year 

1 year 

1 year 

6 months 

Price 

6,95€ 

12,95€ 

29,95€ 

49,95€ 

119,95€ 

SKU 

5010122 

5016501 

5010574 

5016228 

5016217 


Measuring the pH value 

A pH meter or pH test strips are another important tool for controlling the brewing process. We check the pH value of the mash after mashing as, in addition to the temperature, this is an optimum pH value for the enzymes to saccharify. 
You can find pH meters here

Measuring starch degradation

To ensure complete saccharification of the starch, an iodine sample should be taken. An iodine solution is required for this. 

The iodine sample is taken as follows: 
Shortly before the end of the last rest, take a tablespoon of mash from the brew and place it on a white plate. Now drip 1-2 drops of the iodine solution onto the plate with the mash and stir the two liquids together. If the wort retains its color or only turns slightly yellowish/orange, the saccharification of the starch is complete and the brew is therefore iodine-normal. If the wort turns black/blue or purple, starch is still present and the brew is iodine positive.
You can find the iodine solution here.

Conclusion

The use of these instruments is crucial to precisely control the brewing process and ensure the quality of the beer. They allow brewers to monitor and adjust parameters such as original gravity, alcohol content, temperature and pH to achieve the desired beer profile. The combination of these tools gives brewers the ability to perfect their craft beer and create unique flavors.


-Jan Dubenkropp


Braumarkt Beer Brewing Guide


Refractometer 0-18% BRIX | 1.000-1.085 SG + ATC
A refractometer is an easy way to measure the density of your wort during brew day. Simply place a few drops of wort on the glass, close the cover, point the refractometer to a light source and make th reading. Scale: 0 % to 18 % Brix with a 0.1 % resolution and 1.000 - 1.085 SG ATC (Automatic Temperature Compensation) range: 10 °C to 30 °CFor universal use.

€34.95*
Available
Refractometer 0-32% BRIX | 1.000-1.120 SG ATC
A refractometer is an easy way to measure the density of your wort during brew day. Simply place a few drops of wort on the glass, close the cover, point the refractometer to a light source and make the reading. Scales: 0 % to 32 % Brix with a 0.2 % division 1.000 to 1.120 SG with a 0.001 division ATC (Automatic Temperature Compensation) range: 10 °C to 30 °CRecommended for brewers.

€34.95*
Available
Milwaukee Digital Brix Refractometer MA871
The Milwaukee digital BRIX refractometer is used by thousands of food and beverage professionals and hobbyists who want more accurate and precise measurements than those produced by optical refractometers. It is temperature compensated with a 0 to 85 percent BRIX range and +/- 0.2 percent accuracy. Easy to operate, easy to maintain, and works fast. Range: 0 to 85% Brix Resolution: 0.1% | 0.1°C (0.1°F) Accuracy: ±0.2% Brix | ±0.3°C | ±0.5°F Easy measurement with just 2-3 drops of sample needed and results less than 2 seconds. Simple one-point calibration using distilled or deionized water. Battery percent level indicator with automatic shut-off (batteries included).

€149.95*
few Available
CDR BeerLab Jr - System for Beer Analyzes - 3+ diff. Values
CDR BeerLab® system CDR BeerLab® consists of a thermostatically controlled analyzer with photometric technology using LED emitters and kits of reagents that are pre-filled into vials and ready to use. CDR BeerLab® Junior is the smaller version for 3 out of 27 chosen analyzes. In comparison to the CDR BeerLab® this system comes without a printer, 16 incubation chambers, multi analyzes mode in background, and Bluetooth port for a bar code scanner.Reduced analysis times With CDR BeerLab® you are finally free to carry out the analyses independently, in your brewery, quickly and easily, without having to rely on an external laboratory. It is possible to analyze 3 samples simultaneously and constantly monitor the production process, obtaining specific answers in a few minutes. Easy to use The system has been designed so that it can be used not only in the laboratory, but also on the production line for real-time results, by personnel without specific technical training. The analysis methods, shown on the display, are simpler than traditional methods and can be performed in just a few steps. If required, the HELP function will guide the operator step by step through the procedure. The result is automatically calculated, displayed and printed out. Reliable CDR BeerLab® guarantees high sensitivity, a wide measuring range and excellent repeatability of the results thanks to the innovative photometric technology using LED light sources and fixed wavelengths ranging from the ultraviolet to the visible spectrum (with a range of 0 to 6 optical density). The analysis results are correlated with those of the reference methods. Pre-filled and disposable reagents are packaged in bags of 10 tests, developed and produced by the CDR research laboratories. In just 15 minutes, up to 16 samples can be analysed with CDR BeerLab® and up to 3 samples with the Junior model. Beer/Wort: TESTS MEASURING RANGE RESOLUTION REPEATABILITY TESTING TIME Fermentable sugars on beer (glucose, fructose, maltose, maltotriose) 0.1-18.0 g/l 0.1 g/l 0.2 g/l 6 mins 15-200 g/l 1 g/l 2 g/l 6 mins Fermentable sugars on wort (glucose, fructose, maltose, maltotriose, sucrose) 15.0-200.0 g/l 0.1 g/l 1.6 g/l 13 mins Lactic Acid D+L 150-3500 ppm 1 ppm 73 ppm 10 mins Bitterness 5.0-80.0 IBU 0.1 IBU 1.5 IBU 11 mins Color EBC 1-100 SRM 0.5-50.0 EBC 1 SRM 0.1 EBC 1 SRM 0.3 1 min Alcohol by Volume 0.002-0.200% vol 0.001% vol 0.002% vol 11 mins 0.10-1.00% vol 0.01% vol 0.01% vol 11 mins 1.0-17.0% vol 0.1% vol 0.2% vol 11 mins VDKs 0.05-2.00 mg/l 0.01 mg/l 0.06 mg/l 5 mins + distillation time Yeast Vitality 0.5-2.6 AP 0.1 AP 0.1 AP 25 mins pH  3.60-6.00 0.01  0.02 1 min Calcium 20-150 ppm 1 ppm 5 ppm 8 min Starch 0.10-5.00 g/l 0.01 g/l 0.07 g/l  1 min Carbohydrates 2.0-80.0 g/l 0.1 g/l 0.6 g/l 13 mins Acetic acid 20-220 mg/l 1 mg/l 11 mg/l 6 mins FAN (beer and wort) Free Ammino Nitrogen by OPA  30-300 mg/l 1 mg/l 15 mg/l 4 mins Total SO2 1.0-30.0 ppm 0.1 ppm 0.7 ppm  2 mins Polyphenols 5-550 mg/l  1 mg/l 5 mg/l         10 mins Water: Calcium 20.0-250.0 ppm 0.1 ppm 4 ppm 1 min Magnesium 2.0-50.0 ppm 0.1 ppm 1 ppm 1 min Bicarbonate 1-300 ppm 1 ppm 3 ppm 10 mins Chloride 15-500 ppm 1 ppm 21 ppm 1 min Potassium 5-500 ppm 1 ppm 6 ppm 1 min Sulfate  10-250 ppm 1 ppm 7 ppm 1 min Zinc 0.05-1.00 ppm 0.01 ppm 0.03 ppm   2 mins Alkalinity 5-600 mg/l 1 mg/l 12 mg/l 10 mins

€3,630.00*
few Available
Beer wort meter 0-20% hobby
Specifically for beer brewers. With scale in weight percentage (degrees Plato). Scale: 0-20%/0.5%.  Length: 22 cm.  Here you need a 100 ml size measuring glass.

€14.95*
Available
Beer Wort Meter PROF 10-20 Plato + Therm
Especially for beer brewers. Accurate meter for beer / wort, with built-in thermometer. With scale in 10 - 20 degrees PLATO. Distribution: 0.1 plato. Thermometer: 0-40 ° C with 0.1 ° C with correction scale. Total length: 37 cm. To be used with a 500 ml measuring glass.

€26.95*
Available
Alcohol filled thermometer -10 ° c to 110 ° c
Alcohol filled thermometer -10 ° c-+ 110 ° c. For measurements of must, wine, beer and alcohol preparation. Thin model, easy to read because of the red liquid inside the thermometer. Please note that the accuracy of this type has a tolerance of 2-5%, so this thermometer is only recommended for the maisch process after calibration.

€6.95*
Available
Instant Read Thermometer
With this digital (meat)thermometer you can read the temperature quickly and accurately. Ideal for measuring the core temperature during a barbeque.The stainless steel probe is easy to clean. Also suitable for measuring the mash temperature during beer brewing and other taskswhere accurate reading of the temperature is desirable. Specifications: Waterproof design Temperature range: -50°C to 300°C (-58°F- 572°F) Temperature Accuracy: ±1°C(±2°F) from -20 to 200°C Probe Length: 127mm (5 inch) Quick readout in 2 seconds with an accurate temperature reading Ultra-bright on-screen LCD display Safety and tidiness with the collapsible probe design Hold the temperature reading before removing the probe from the food. Accurate reading with the step-down probe design Probe material: Food grade 304 steel

€12.95*
Available
Milwaukee Digital Thermometer with Probe TH300
The Milwaukee TH300 compact digital temperature meter is the perfect solution for accurate temperature measurement in hard to reach places due to its 1 meter long cable. The meter works digitally, contains no mercury and glass and is therefore environmentally friendly. With this meter you keep the temperature of your brews quickly and precisely within your target range. Fast, accurate results with large digital LCD readout. Extended temperature range: -50 to 150°C (-58 to 302°F) Easy measurement: just place the stainless steel probe in the sample and wait for the reading to stabilize. Easy, flexible 1 meter cable for hard to reach places. Stainless Steel pointed probe for easy fruit penetration and easy cleaning. Long battery life, approx. 1 year. (batteries included) High accurate digital readings.

€49.95*
Available
%
Tip
Brewbrain Float - WiFi hydrometer and thermometer
Float keeps track of your brew's fermentation activity, temperature and SG anytime, anywhere, so you brew better beers. The device can be used in your fermentation vessel. The measurement data gives you all kinds of useful information: it shows you when fermentation has stopped, so you can bottle your beer. You can also use the temperature data to monitor the dry hopping (dry hopping) temperature and correct it if necessary. Real-time measurement data, including historical data Food-safe housing WiFi connection Easy to charge batteryConnectivity with Grainfather and Brewfather apps How does the Brewbrain Float work? You simply connect the Float to your wifi access point. Create an account at My Brewbrain or log in with your existing account. Switch to "Measure" and place the Float in your brew to start measuring! All your data is displayed on the online platform, either fullscreen or in an overview on your smartphone, all equally easy and convenient. Create your own groups to share the data or discuss it with other brewers.

€99.95* €119.95* (16.67% saved)
Available