using a refractometer

[devilsbeltbrewing]

just curious on peoples feedback regarding brewing with a refractometer to check brix levels throught boil. how often should i be checking , is there any need to check brix during starch conversion and what are some good ballpark numbers to go off

 

[TheHopfather]

I'm confused as to what you mean by good ballpark numbers... Whatever brix your recipe calls for would be good I guess?

I've heard of guys checking brix during the mash to see when the mash is done, once brix stops climbing you are probably done mashing.

You can check during the boil to see if you are on track to hitting your gravity numbers. Personally I check my gravity after the mash and right before the end of the boil, typically check again once I've cooled the wort. A refractometer is just an easier to use hydrometer, they are both telling you the same thing.

 

[Auger]

I use the iodine test to check starch conversion. From there, I use the refractometer to measure SG as it comes out at the beginning of the sparge, monitor overall gravity as I'm sparging both in the BK and in the wort coming out of the MLT. Use it to check pre and post-boil gravities, pitch yeast, and its hydrometer readings from there on out.