ihavenonickname
Well-Known Member
Do you think this device would fix a lot of my frustrations with a typical refractometer? Is it just as good as the EasyDens for our purposes (really just OG and FG)
I’ve brewed for 7 years and still have some frustrations with inconsistent gravity readings. What gives!
I use a typical hydrometer calibrated to 68F and a refractometer. On brewdays I use the refractometer throughout, after wort is chilled I use the hydrometer for a true OG. I sometimes use a refractometer during fermentation (just for a trend) till fermentation stops. Hydrometer for a true FG.
My problems are on brewday my readings are totally inconsistent - during the mash, pre boil and post boil often don’t make sense and bounce up and down. The refractometer doesn’t do a good job predicting what the true OG will be according to the hydrometer about half the time.
I think some of the causes are typical to lots of other people: I have to cool the sample down to a proper temp. I have big problems with a hot sample evaporating on the refractometer or before driping it on there. I have problems with indexing my refractometer to be accurate at SG over 1.080. Even though I’ve spent lots of time indexing it the way you should. My refractometer alcohol correction calculations are unreliable, I don’t think this is fixable. I have problems with wort stratification, the top always seems to be less dense than the bottom, despite a good stir.
So I’m open to more tips for my procedures BUT do you think the new Anton Paar SmartRef will fix my problems?
I’m also considering a mash temp hydrometer (which might also help for pre and post boil samples if I chill it a little, but kind of a pain to do that. ) Or the Milwaukee digital refractometers
For reference: SmartRef by Anton Paar - Digital Refractometer - Sugar, Brix, Salinity, Plato, Specific Gravity (SG) SmartRef by Anton Paar - Digital Refractometer - Sugar, Brix, Salinity, Plato, Specific Gravity (SG): Amazon.com: Industrial & Scientific (david Heath has a helpful video on it) Or MILWAUKEE'S Instruments MA871 Digital Brix Refractometer, Range 0-85% Amazon.com: MILWAUKEE'S Instruments MA871 Digital Brix Refractometer, Range 0-85% : Industrial & Scientific Or American-Made Beer Mashing Hydrometer Calibrated at 155 Degrees Fahrenheit - Specific Gravity Pro Series Brewing Triple Scale - Brew Better All Grain Beer Amazon.com: American-Made Beer Mashing Hydrometer Calibrated at 155 Degrees Fahrenheit - Specific Gravity Pro Series Brewing Triple Scale - Brew Better All Grain Beer : Home & Kitchen
I’ve brewed for 7 years and still have some frustrations with inconsistent gravity readings. What gives!
I use a typical hydrometer calibrated to 68F and a refractometer. On brewdays I use the refractometer throughout, after wort is chilled I use the hydrometer for a true OG. I sometimes use a refractometer during fermentation (just for a trend) till fermentation stops. Hydrometer for a true FG.
My problems are on brewday my readings are totally inconsistent - during the mash, pre boil and post boil often don’t make sense and bounce up and down. The refractometer doesn’t do a good job predicting what the true OG will be according to the hydrometer about half the time.
I think some of the causes are typical to lots of other people: I have to cool the sample down to a proper temp. I have big problems with a hot sample evaporating on the refractometer or before driping it on there. I have problems with indexing my refractometer to be accurate at SG over 1.080. Even though I’ve spent lots of time indexing it the way you should. My refractometer alcohol correction calculations are unreliable, I don’t think this is fixable. I have problems with wort stratification, the top always seems to be less dense than the bottom, despite a good stir.
So I’m open to more tips for my procedures BUT do you think the new Anton Paar SmartRef will fix my problems?
I’m also considering a mash temp hydrometer (which might also help for pre and post boil samples if I chill it a little, but kind of a pain to do that. ) Or the Milwaukee digital refractometers
For reference: SmartRef by Anton Paar - Digital Refractometer - Sugar, Brix, Salinity, Plato, Specific Gravity (SG) SmartRef by Anton Paar - Digital Refractometer - Sugar, Brix, Salinity, Plato, Specific Gravity (SG): Amazon.com: Industrial & Scientific (david Heath has a helpful video on it) Or MILWAUKEE'S Instruments MA871 Digital Brix Refractometer, Range 0-85% Amazon.com: MILWAUKEE'S Instruments MA871 Digital Brix Refractometer, Range 0-85% : Industrial & Scientific Or American-Made Beer Mashing Hydrometer Calibrated at 155 Degrees Fahrenheit - Specific Gravity Pro Series Brewing Triple Scale - Brew Better All Grain Beer Amazon.com: American-Made Beer Mashing Hydrometer Calibrated at 155 Degrees Fahrenheit - Specific Gravity Pro Series Brewing Triple Scale - Brew Better All Grain Beer : Home & Kitchen
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