OG, different readings between hydrometer and refractometer

I understand that after the presence of alcohol, the brix reading is skewed, but from what I've read, the gravity should be the same before fermentation starts.

I picked up a refractometer, calibrated it, and then tested before pitching the yeast. I'm also using calibrated numbers for my hydrometer. (reads 2 points high)

Adjusting for temperature, I came out with a hydrometer gravity of 1.068 and a refractometer gravity of 1.061. (brix % adjusted for temp * 4)

I'm wondering if that is common before alcohol is present.

I know there's that morebeer spreadsheet that helps compensate for alcohol, but if the readings are off like this, it seems impossible to get an accurate gravity reading.

try this:

Brix/1.04 X 4 = gravity

let us know what you get using this formula...

about 2 points more of a difference. maybe i need to practice on some sugar water to see if it was just a bad reading. i was pretty careful though.

post that info in this thread: https://www.homebrewtalk.com/f11/refractometer-vs-hydrometer-video-94946/