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avaserfi · 04-12-2009, 06:14 PM

I just kegged a wheat today and measured the FG with my refractometer and hydrometer. With the refractometer I get 5 brix, after accounting for the OG of 1.048 that reads as about 1.003. Meanwhile, the hydrometer reads at 1.011. Both are calibrated and temperature adjusted. Also, I am always within 2 points when comparing the two prior to fermentation.

Is this because I am measuring a wheat which typically have more particles in them than most other beers? This is the first time I have used my refractometer for FG calculations.

**jkarp** · 04-12-2009, 08:13 PM

Refractometers can only provide a very rough approximation when alcohol is present. Trust hydrometer readings for FG.

avaserfi · 04-12-2009, 08:32 PM

I figured the hydrometer is more accurate, but I have read that most people are within a couple points when comparing the two devices. Just trying to figure out what is going on.

greencon · 04-12-2009, 08:38 PM

Check out this tutorial and spreadsheet. Could help

MoreBeer!™: Using a refractometer in brewing | MoreBeer

**Denny's Evil Concoctions** · 04-12-2009, 08:42 PM

Do you use beersmith? There's an adjustment tool in there.

avaserfi · 04-12-2009, 08:46 PM

I used Beersmith's adjustment tool, Morebeers and some other site I found. They all had the same results. Both the refractometer and hydrometer have been recently calibrated in distilled water. Something is causing such a large discrepancy, my guess is that I made a wheat and the extra particles are causing issues with the refractometer, but I am not too sure if this is right or not. It is just a guess.

Catt22 · 04-13-2009, 05:18 PM

There's a fair chance that your OG was lower than you thought. A 1.034 OG and a 5 Brix would corrdspond to the 1.011 SG you reported. A lot depends on how confident you are of the 1.048 OG number.