Refractometer

[grs]

Does anyone use the refractometer gravity during fermentation calculator tool in Promash? Or one of the spreadsheet versions that are out there on the net? How accurate do you find them to be compared to a hydrometer?

Using the promash tool and refractometer I'm told my beer should be 2.99 plato but my hydrometer says 3.9.

[Jephro]

I have tried a few methods, some are in the ballpark but i really don't trust any of them all that much. Check out this thread & the link Woolsocks posted...

http://www.probrewer.com/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=3990

[Woolsocks]

I've found it remarkably accurate. Once in a while, I don't trust the refractometer (like when I don't get a beer to ferment out as much as I want) and I double check with the hydrometer. Readings are very similar.

[Jephro]

In retrospect, i may have been a bit hasty in my judgment. :o I need to give that sheet another try.

[grs]

Woolsocks - do you use promash or the spreadsheet you linked to in the thread mentioned here? Maybe I need a new hydrometer, I don't know...

[Woolsocks]

I use either the spreadsheet or Beersmith, whichever is most convenient at the time.

[dereknobleluke]

my understanding that refractometers are used only to measure sweet wort as EtOH causes it to skew the reading