accurate brewing thermometers

[rhys333]

I'm not comparing faucets to thermometers. I'm saying that if someone talks about buying (expensive) flow control faucets because they swear they are better than less expensive faucets, then claims their cheap thermometer is just as good as a higher quality (more expensive) one because they don't want to spend the extra money, they are being cheap.

The fact that you don't see a difference between a beer mashed at 148° vs 158° explains why maybe you need to make the investment.

There are some thermometer threads, but you're right, not that many. But, I'd guess that at least some of the "why does my beer have an off taste?" or "why did my fermentation stop at to high an FG?" threads could stem from temperature issues somewhere throughout the process. I started with a cheap, homebrew store thermometer myself. The calibration was always just a little off, until one day I realized it got way off and screwed up the mash. It only took tossing one batch due to temperature to convince me to spend the money. You really do get what you pay for.

I don't follow the reasoning here. Is a person cheap because they use an inexpensive thermometer, even if it works flawlessly? Is it not possible to easily tell the difference between a 148F and 158F mash with a cheap thermometer? Is mash temp the most likely reason for off-taste or high FG?

 

[bheinecke]

Thermoworks Heavy Duty Waterproof Thermometer, 12-inch (RT610B-12) - drops into the hole in my lid for constant monitoring... works perfect for $25. My brew bud has a huge 25 gallon kettle and uses the 24" model.

I bought a 12" from thermoworks along with a thermopen. The 12" sits in a hole on the top of the MT as yours. At first I would use the thermapen to double check the cheaper 12" thermometer but the readings were always the same. The thermapen only gets love now when grilling thick pork/chicken, when I need to validate another thermometer or if I believe I have a fever (used it for that yesterday )

 

[oujens]

I purchased a CDN and am happy with it. I calibrate it before each brew. Bobby at brewhardware had a performance comparison between a CDN and thermopen and didn't appear to be a material difference in temps, just a quicker read. I purchased a CDN with a budget to upgrade other items in mind. If you fall in this category I don't think the CDN will let you down. Thermapen obviously will be a good choice as well.

 

[jmcquesten]

I don't follow the reasoning here. Is a person cheap because they use an inexpensive thermometer, even if it works flawlessly? Is it not possible to easily tell the difference between a 148F and 158F mash with a cheap thermometer? Is mash temp the most likely reason for off-taste or high FG?

No. That comment was made towards someone who always pushes what he thinks is the best piece of brewing equipment and happens to be the most expensive option. Then, a discussion comes up about thermometers and all of a sudden, the "cheap" option is good enough for them because they just can't see spending what the good quality one costs. That particular person stated that they didn't know the difference between a beer mashed at 148 vs 158, so I guess for them it's not possible to tell the difference with a cheap thermometer. Maybe that thermometer is a little off at mash temps? Even a thermometer calibrated in ice water and boiling water can be off at the temperature most people mash at. Different recipes have different mash temperatures for reasons, and 10 degrees is a pretty big spread to not see some difference in the finished product.

As far as the off flavors or stalled fermentation, I was simply stating just because there aren't a ton of thermometer threads, doesn't mean that some of the other threads might not be caused by temperature related issues. I would think that mashing out of the desired temperature range COULD cause some issues with off tastes and possibly final gravity. It might not be the most likely reason, but it is a possibility.

I'm not saying that everyone HAS to buy expensive stuff. Brew what you want, how you want, using whatever tools or methods you want. Spend your money however you want to spend it.

 

[wilserbrewer]

I have about 4 inexpensive digital thermometers. I have occasionally measured and compared between them and they all seemed very close.

A few months ago I tested all of them in crushed ice water insulated cup, and at boiling and was shocked how close they all were. Within a degree if I recall correctly.

Recently my strike water seemed to be taking a long time to heat up, sure enough a cheap $6 eBay Chinese therma pen clone was reading 20 degrees low

My take is that lesser expensive digital thermometers tend to be very accurate, and it is a good idea to have at least two.

For the money, I think the therma pen should be water proof, as I've dropped a couple thermos in the kettle over the years.

 

[JONNYROTTEN]

I don't follow the reasoning here. Is a person cheap because they use an inexpensive thermometer, even if it works flawlessly? Is it not possible to easily tell the difference between a 148F and 158F mash with a cheap thermometer? Is mash temp the most likely reason for off-taste or high FG?

Exactly.
The guys just being a jerk...maybe he's got the flu and has a cheap thermometer stuck up his @ss

 

[mongoose33]

Can't we all just get along?

Almost everybody has resource limitations, in time and money, that guide their purchase decisions. Heck, I was 38 years old before we first reached the end of the month before we reached the end of the money.

Everybody balances cost against utility (time and effectiveness), and they make their choices. Sometimes those choices work out well, sometimes not as much. Me, too.

I bought a Thermapen MkIV because I never read any review or reaction by someone who owned one that wasn't just glowing. Yet, it'll cost you nearly $100--is it worth it?

And can you buy less expensive thermometers that will also tell you the temperature within an acceptable margin of error? I have one like that. It's not as fast as the thermapen, not as easy to hold and read, not quite as accurate. Yet despite its faults I've made a lot of good beer using it.

In other words, you're not wrong to make a different choice than I.

************

We see a lot of people on the internet trying to convince others of the value of their own choices--as if others choosing something else is somehow critical of their own choice. So they engage in a campaign to get others to buy their choice, as a way to validate their own decision.

It's hard sometimes to break out of that, to admit that a different choice is perhaps better than our own choice. Did we pay too much? Not get enough resolution? Choose something not as effective as some other choice?

What you choose to do, I have to assume, is the best fit between money and utility, given the information to which you have access. Sometimes we make a good choice, sometimes not so much, but in the end, it's our choice.

.

 

[mabrungard]

+1 for the cheaper Thermoworks units. Sure the Thermapen is nice, but the price is excessive.

I have multiple Thermoworks thermometers and they are all verified in the typical mashing temperature range with my NIST-certified mercury lab thermometer. That is the way to make sure your temp readings are accurate. Trying the calibrate a thermometer at the freezing or boil points is far from the temps we brewers are interested in and assuring that you are actually at those freezing or boiling temps can be difficult.

With any electronic thermometer, the Reagan motto: Trust but Verify is certainly applicable.

 

[murphyslaw]

I used a dial thermometer for years and after a couple trouble batches I checked to see if my thermometer was off. It was off by about 15 degrees. That's when I bought the $20 thermometer from thermoworks. I would highly recommend getting one of those if you don't want to spend the money on a thermapen. They're just as accurate.

For the money, I think the therma pen should be water proof, as I've dropped a couple thermos in the kettle over the years.

The new version is waterproof.

 

[beertastic]

I've been brewing for about 5 years, but not as experienced as some people here. I started off with some random digital thermometer we had in the kitchen drawer.

I never really trusted it so I moved up to the CDN thermometer people love so much. It served me well for a few years, but after about 3 years it started to get all wonky around mash temps. I mean it would read 150F one second, and then immediately jump to 156F. Seemed fine in an ice bath and at boiling. But the important temps? It was wild. Maybe I got it wet once or something, I dunno.

So I bought the Lavatools one people rave about nowadays. That thing lasted about 6 months before it just quit working entirely. I probably should have gotten another under warranty, but I got pissed at it and just threw it away. I do not recommend that thermometer.

So a few months ago, I bought my 4th thermometer. The MK4. We'll see.

 

[jmcquesten]

I've been brewing for about 5 years, but not as experienced as some people here. I started off with some random digital thermometer we had in the kitchen drawer.

I never really trusted it so I moved up to the CDN thermometer people love so much. It served me well for a few years, but after about 3 years it started to get all wonky around mash temps. I mean it would read 150F one second, and then immediately jump to 156F. Seemed fine in an ice bath and at boiling. But the important temps? It was wild. Maybe I got it wet once or something, I dunno.

So I bought the Lavatools one people rave about nowadays. That thing lasted about 6 months before it just quit working entirely. I probably should have gotten another under warranty, but I got pissed at it and just threw it away. I do not recommend that thermometer.

So a few months ago, I bought my 4th thermometer. The MK4. We'll see.

You made a good choice on the thermoworks unit. You'll be happy with the MK4 and shouldn't need another thermometer for quite a while. Your experience proves a good point. You can get a decent, accurate inexpensive thermometer, but by the time you try a bunch of cheap ones, you could have just bought the right tool for the job. Don't be surprised if it gets more use in the kitchen than it does for brewing.

Don't let anyone shame you for spending money on a good quality piece of equipment.

 

[Anon111]

Two analogue meters that came with the different setups. At 80° they differ about 1°
First I'm fixing the big things, thermometers are on the list but not in the budget until waay after Christmas.