Northern Brewing's Refractometer?

[user 246304]

How do people feel about this one? Just used for pre-boil and post-boil readings (possibly final runnings, but there, more likely to go with pH).

Just wanting a dependable one with ATC. Don't need an accompanying SG scale on board, though I guess that's nice. Durable, easy to read, as cheap as possible, with those quality markers (i.e., don't need Morebeer's "Vee Gee...at $152).

Many thanks.

 

[Hoppy2bmerry]

I use my refractometer for all readings and utilize one of the online calculators to get the ABV. I figure that since I am not a pro brewer selling to the public the possible small margin of error is not an issue. It is also nice to check if fermentation is done with just a drop of product, as most of my batches are 2.5- 3 gallons, I simply slip a sanitized pipette through the airlock grommet.

 

[IslandLizard]

Looks just like the one I have and bought for $25 on eBay 5 years ago. They're under $20 now.

I seriously doubt it's worth spending any extra money on it, unless you want to line the pockets of ABInBev, since the ultimate source of the majority of these "instruments" is all the same: Generic manufacturing in China! I'm willing to bet they are less than $3 wholesale.

The price I paid then actually included the extra $3 or $5 for buying the 25% heavier weighing model. It does feel substantial and has been working great. No complaints.

 

[user 246304]

Looks just like the one I have and bought for $25 on eBay 5 years ago. They're under $20 now.

I seriously doubt it's worth spending any extra money on it, unless you want to line the pockets of ABInBev, since the ultimate source of the majority of these "instruments" is all the same: Generic manufacturing in China! I'm willing to bet they are less than $3 wholesale.

I actually spent the extra $3 or $5, buying the 25% heavier weighing model. It does feel substantial and has been working great. No complaints.

Hear you and thanks. Jeez, looking at a search, came up with a ton on e-bay. Any idea?, lol?

 

[Hoppy2bmerry]

I think I got mine on sale for $20-25 @AIH a few years ago. Shop around as long as you can calibrate it, all should be good.

 

[CarolinaMatt]

How do people feel about this one? Just used for pre-boil and post-boil readings (possibly final runnings, but there, more likely to go with pH).

Just wanting a dependable one with ATC. Don't need an accompanying SG scale on board, though I guess that's nice. Durable, easy to read, as cheap as possible, with those quality markers (i.e., don't need Morebeer's "Vee Gee...at $152).

Many thanks.

I got this one for under $20 on amazon a month ago. It works great! I've used it a decent amount of times and compared to my hydrometer and it is spot on. https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01LZFXT7S/?tag=skimlinks_replacement-20

 

[verboten]

it's the same one I paid $18 for, so it's fine, just expensive.

 

[Carolina_Matt]

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01M1GLSSF/?tag=skimlinks_replacement-20

I bought that one this weekend and had it delivered Sunday. I checked with distilled water, and it was spot on. I checked my wort that had finished fermenting, and ran it through the calculator, and it was spot on with my hydrometer reading.

On the other hand, I checked it again the following (yesterday) morning. My hydrometer was still showing what it showed, but the refractometer showed a different reading (7 Brix instead of 8 Brix). I took a few different readings, and it kept showing 7 Brix. Distilled water showed that it was still calibrated correctly.

So maybe the cheap versions aren't the best? I don't know. I'll keep using it for a few weeks and see how it goes.

 

[CarolinaMatt]

Hmm...not sure how quickly once fermentation begins how long before the presence of alcohol is there as the alcohol would distort the reading. Maybe try and run the reading through a calculator to see what it would actually be at?

 

[Carolina_Matt]

Hmm...not sure how quickly once fermentation begins how long before the presence of alcohol is there as the alcohol would distort the reading. Maybe try and run the reading through a calculator to see what it would actually be at?

Yeah, I read it through a calculator. I think from Brewer's Friend. The weird thing, to me, is that the base reading changed. The hydrometer was identical from one day to the next, but the refractometer showed 8 Brix Sunday night, and 7 (on multiple readings) Monday morning. After running through the calculator, 8 Brix was accurate (1.016 FG based on my OG).

 

[IslandLizard]

Yeah, I read it through a calculator. I think from Brewer's Friend. The weird thing, to me, is that the base reading changed. The hydrometer was identical from one day to the next, but the refractometer showed 8 Brix Sunday night, and 7 (on multiple readings) Monday morning. After running through the calculator, 8 Brix was accurate (1.016 FG based on my OG).

If the hydrometer reading didn't change there had been no fermentation and alcohol formation yet. It's absolutely possible the refractometer is broken. Or the hydrometer.

You could prepare a calibration sugar solution of known gravity and compare again. That should tell you.

 

[CarolinaMatt]

If the hydrometer reading didn't change there had been no fermentation and alcohol formation yet. It's absolutely possible the refractometer is broken. Or the hydrometer.

You could prepare a calibration sugar solution of known gravity and compare again. That should tell you.

Good call on the solution -- one must be off.

 

[Carolina_Matt]

If the hydrometer reading didn't change there had been no fermentation and alcohol formation yet. It's absolutely possible the refractometer is broken. Or the hydrometer.

You could prepare a calibration sugar solution of known gravity and compare again. That should tell you.

Actually, I should clarify. This was the very end of the fermentation process. The hydrometer did change from when I brewed the beer ~10 days ago (from 1.060 to 1.016), but it did not change from the day before.

I brewed another batch yesterday, and the OG was the same with the Hydrometer and the Refractometer. So most of the time I get the same reading for both devices - but for whatever reason, the refractometer was showing a discrepancy on Monday morning. Maybe I just happened to get a weird sample when I used the pipette.

 

[Youngster]

I thought you couldn’t use a refractometer during and after fermentation because of the sugar and alcohol content in them

 

[IslandLizard]

I thought you couldn’t use a refractometer during and after fermentation because of the sugar and alcohol content in them

You can. But the reading doesn't reflect the accurate Specific Gravity (SG), due to the alcohol present.

You need to use a correction formula to convert the refractometer reading to actual SG. There are a few around, one of those is Sean Terrill's, who did a lot of research on the topic, and many others.

To use the correction formula(s), you do need to know your (pre-fermentation) OG.
They can also calculate actual SG if you know the exact ABV (or ABW, not sure).

 

[IslandLizard]

The hydrometer was identical from one day to the next

Reading a hydrometer is fairly simple, but you do need to know how to do it correctly.

For example, in fermentation related applications, it's important that the liquid is decarbonated or the reading will be false.
Temperature is also a factor, as could be other dissolved substances.

 

[Youngster]

Reading a hydrometer is fairly simple, but you do need to know how to do it correctly.

For example, in fermentation related applications, it's important that the liquid is decarbonated or the reading will be false.
Temperature is also a factor, as could be other dissolved substances.

When would you be trying to take a reading after carbonation

 

[IslandLizard]

When would you be trying to take a reading after carbonation

To take gravity readings during or after fermentation. Don't forget, beer is being carbonated during fermentation. Can be 1 volume (60F) or as high as 1.7 volumes (32F, lagers). Carbonation creates buoyancy and throws the hydrometer reading off.

Or to get a gravity (FG) reading, in say bottled or canned (commercial) beer.

 

[user 246304]

To take gravity readings during or after fermentation. Don't forget, beer is being carbonated during fermentation. Can be 1 volume (60F) or as high as 1.7 volumes (32F, lagers). Carbonation creates buoyancy and throws the hydrometer reading off.

Or to get a gravity (FG) reading, in say bottled or canned (commercial) beer.

First, thank you everyone. I think I'll give a shot to the Amazon one, seems like most find it's been pretty reliable. Only out $18.99, so a good foray in.

And Island, I find carbonation a serious pain when taking hydro readings. What I do is a brisk spin, drop it in, and try to get the read quickly, before bubbles have had a chance to grab and lift the hydro. I can't even remember if that's SOP, but is this what you and others do?