Well i just got my refractometer!

[jrgtr42]

My refractometer has both scales - I just have to remember to record both numbers. The SG wort (1.xxx) scale is pretty much spot on to the hydrometer
I've used mine a bunch, and on the calculator with Brewers Friend, even leaving the correction factor at 1.0, it's close enough for government work. |Plus or minus a point or so, I rarely bother with a hydrometer reading anymore, maybe once every 5 or 6 brews, just to verify. I do check calibration every other, if not every brew, using the brew water just before heating for strike.

 

[moorejl57]

Mine reads in Brix only as well and I love the convenience of being able to take a quick reading during the boil to know when I have hit my target. I also use it to measure other things (ethanol/water, salt/water, coffee) by back calculating to refractive index. Then I can use a table to read other substances or if I get motivated I can make a spreadsheet to do the conversions from Brix to whatever.

For calibration, you use a couple of drops of distilled water. This can be easily obtained from the lid of a pan you boiled water in. I am still using the original pipette that came with it, just rinse it out well after use.

 

[beekgeek]

When i first got into brewing, one of the first things i decided was a good refractometer, ended up getting the hanna digital and havent regretted it a single damn bit.

Which Hanna did you get? Looking at the HI 96841 -- but notice it has the disclaimer "Cannot be used with finished beer or other fermented beverages". Are you able to use it both pre and post ferment?

 

[VikeMan]

Looking at the HI 96841 -- but notice it has the disclaimer "Cannot be used with finished beer or other fermented beverages". Are you able to use it both pre and post ferment?

Refractometers, digital or otherwise, can be used both pre and post fermentation, if the readings are adjusted by a refractometer calculator. It's an imperfect estimate, but it's close enough for many purposes.

 

[bracconiere]

well i like it....

the vintometers supposedly would work with water,ethanol...but no sugar present...damn things clogged on me fast...now i can figure ABV with water/sugar/ethanol....


and being i like my fun brewing toys to be about a $20 spot.....great investment....still having a hell of time getting the thing to focus though

 

[Nate R]

....still having a hell of time getting the thing to focus though

Any chance, perhaps... my dear friend... it is not the device that is having issues focusing?? In other words... have you tried it sober yet?
(And yes, i am speaking from personal experience here!!)

 

[bracconiere]

Any chance, perhaps... my dear friend... it is not the device that is having issues focusing?? In other words... have you tried it sober yet?
(And yes, i am speaking from personal experience here!!)

well, my dear friend, i'm not willing to try that....but i will try squinting one eye next time i pull it out!


edit: thanks for the tip, i just tried it again with a squirt of beer...but i kept both eyes open, and being i've got a buzz could ignore the other one not being used, but left it open! sharp as hell!

do they make a binocular refractometer?

 

[deuc224]

Which Hanna did you get? Looking at the HI 96841 -- but notice it has the disclaimer "Cannot be used with finished beer or other fermented beverages". Are you able to use it both pre and post ferment?

I actually got the 96811, I plug the numbers into the brewers friend refractometer calculator and my numbers are always dead on with what im trying to brew, Just finished up an imperial stout and the numbers were smack dab on the money. Gonna be an 11.6% stout with some back sweetening from some good maple syrup.

 

[bracconiere]

well my first brew with the refrac, i owe someone an appolagy. don't remember a name though.


being that could sample my run off during fly sparging, i realized sparging past 1.009 run-off was pretty pointless, called it at 11.5 gallons in the pot.

got a 1 hour boil off instead of 3, and 94% effec anyway!

now i just need one that reads in SG so i don't have to run back and forth from the computer to figure out what the hell a brick is! lol

 

[IslandLizard]

now i just need one that reads in SG

Nah, just multiply your Brix reading with 4 to get to an approximate SG value.
e.g. 10 Brix ==> 1.040 // 15 Brix ==> 1.060

At 1.050 start adding 1 point for each additional 10 points:
1.060 + 1
1.070 + 2
1.080 + 3
etc.
Close enough for me, and I don't do government work anymore...

Here's a reference table of Brix to SG conversion:
https://winning-homebrew.com/specific-gravity-to-brix.html

 

[IslandLizard]

i realized sparging past 1.009 run-off was pretty pointless,

When fly sparging it's recommended to stop sparging when the gravity drops below 1.012, to prevent extracting tannins.

 

[bracconiere]

i plan on brewing again sunday, will give it a shot.....

 

[bracconiere]

When fly sparging it's recommended to stop sparging when the gravity drops below 1.012, to prevent extracting tannins.

i knew that, sorta...but actually thought it was a it's pointless to try and get better effec thing....i sparge with water out of a plastic bucket though, so wonder if the temp would be high enough?

 

[IslandLizard]

i knew that, sorta...but actually thought it was a it's pointless to try and get better effec thing....i sparge with water out of a plastic bucket though, so wonder if the temp would be high enough?

pH is actually more important than temperature. Otherwise, decoctions would become a tannin boil.
But, yeah, when the sparge water is well below 170F the risk of tanning extraction goes down too.

As you noticed there's not much point in extracting the extra 2 gallons at 1.010 (1.012 dropping to 1.008 during the sparge). You'd spend more energy and time condensing that than adding a pound of grain from the get go.

That said, I really appreciate batch sparging. It's not all that critical and once the grain bed has settled, you can lauter wide open.
Now above 10-15 gallons, stirring the sparge becomes a real chore and workout, so fly sparging starts to win points. Also literally.

 

[bracconiere]

You'd spend more energy and time condensing that than adding a pound of grain from the get go.

i brew on my NG stove, so energy is pretty much free....but shaving 2 hours off brew day is nice!

at any rate liking the refrac overall..can now calculate ABV without knowing OG, and it's good for small hot samples.....

 

[IslandLizard]

i brew on my NG stove, so energy is pretty much free....but shaving 2 hours off brew day is nice!

I've condensed 2-3 gallons of 4th runnings (1.008-1.012) at full bore on an electric glass top range with a box fan lying on top of the kettle. It went pretty fast, but hardly worth the effort for 1-2 quarts of 1.50-1.060 wort.

Instead, I do strain the kettle trub, and let it settle out. I can recover 1-3 quarts of clear wort, at 100% batch gravity, much easier that way.

 

[bracconiere]

I've condensed 2-3 gallons of 4th runnings (1.008-1.012) at full bore on an electric glass top range with a box fan lying on top of the kettle. It went pretty fast, but hardly worth the effort for 1-2 quarts of 1.50-1.060 wort.

man, you gotta stop thinking for me! i was just thinking about cutting a couple 3" holes in my kettle lid so i could install my inline blower, and an exhaust vent....for that extra 2 points....and still save the time....lol

 

[bracconiere]

well, thought i'd update....after 3 or so batches with the refrac, the clamp that holds the plastic thingy that flips down broke....

anyone got a tip for fixing it? i'm not even sure how it broke, but it did....

 

[Nate R]

well, thought i'd update....after 3 or so batches with the refrac, the clamp that holds the plastic thingy that flips down broke....

anyone got a tip for fixing it? i'm not even sure how it broke, but it did....

https://www.northernbrewer.com/coll...uYXRoYW5pZWwuYy5yZXlub2xkc0BnbWFpbC5jb20ifQ==

 

[bracconiere]

for the low, low price of $150 huh ? lol

i might try and solder it....

 

[Nate R]

for the low, low price of $150 huh ? lol

i might try and solder it....

Sorry... i could'nt resist!!

I got mine from Amazon for under $25... every time i've checked it against my good 'ole hydrometer, it's very very close. It's good enough for me

 

[bracconiere]

I got mine from Amazon for under $25.

yeah i got 1.058 OG with my 'broken' refrac, and 1.060 with my hydro and temp correction at 77f.....

the plastic thing really just moves around now....

i spent the same on this one.....

but now that we're talking $150.....

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Milwaukee-...238740?hash=item46b3157594:g:pNYAAOSwLQtgNnTh

i was having trouble reading 'between the lines' on the optical anyway.....

 

[Nate R]

yeah i got 1.058 OG with my 'broken' refrac, and 1.060 with my hydro and temp correction at 77f.....

the plastic thing really just moves around now....

i spent the same on this one.....

but now that we're talking $150.....

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Milwaukee-...238740?hash=item46b3157594:g:pNYAAOSwLQtgNnTh

i was having trouble reading 'between the lines' on the optical anyway.....

Yeah, i want a digital one sooooo bad!!! But why?? I make beer for me, and it's a hobby for now.

 

[MaxStout]

A digital refrac is very tempting. The Milwaukee is a few dollars cheaper on Amazon, but still beau coup bucks when my $20 optical refrac gets me within a gravity point or two.

But...I like gadgets, so maybe...

 

[bracconiere]

Yeah, i want a digital one sooooo bad!!! But why?? I make beer for me, and it's a hobby for now.

but you'd be able to impress people here at HBT, saying your Brix in the nearest tenth!


(damn, just noticed a digital refrac for coolant going for $20....have to figure out how to convert glycol to brix, but i'm going for it! lol)

 

[deuc224]

I got a hanna digital refractometer and it was the best decision ive made, it has temp correction and all, one of the best investments ive made in home brewing. Im all about the simplest path to the finish line at all costs.

 

[bracconiere]

I got a hanna digital refractometer and it was the best decision ive made, it has temp correction and all, one of the best investments ive made in home brewing. Im all about the simplest path to the finish line at all costs.

now i have to post in "want to buy" forum.....

 

[deuc224]

now i have to post in "want to buy" forum.....

Its worth it honestly.

 

[bracconiere]

Its worth it honestly.

i don't doubt it....i plan on getting a milwaukee, $150's going to smart a bit....but i guess i'll just have to malt my own for a few months to recuperate.....

 

[bracconiere]

welp, they say the first taste is free...i'm hooked on the refrac, so i just pulled the trigger on a $90 "New - Open Box" Milwaukee MA871 digital one...should show up just in time for next brew day...going to be nice to have 0.1% digital readout!