Digital Refractometer

[john luc]

https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005001 ... LJJvq&mp=1 I was looking at maybe getting one of these. Anyone got experience with using something like one of these

[MashBag]

I am a refractometer fan. But what are you wanting it for exactly?

[MashBag]

The scale of rewards out in might be important too.

Good price. Tbw

[chris2012]

I've got an Atago PAL-1 digital refractometer I bought from fleabay. And just calibrate with distilled
water.

That aliexpress one looks very interesting esp. price wise.

[guypettigrew]

A digital refractometer is a vital piece of kit, I reckon. It uses <0.5 ml of liquid, at any temperature, which then cools very quickly to ambient once it's on the meter.

The read out is fast and clear. No peering down a tube at a vaguely hazy line!

Mine gets used several times on a brew day.

Go for it!

Guy

[oldbloke]

They all seem to be made in China but I got mine from a UK reseller so I could send it back if there were any problems - there weren't. It was the sae price, I think, or maybe 1 quid more.

[john luc]

The read out is fast and clear. No peering down a tube at a vaguely hazy line!
Guy

This is why I like it too, getting too old trying to see that gammy line while peering through the handheld yoke.

[MashBag]

A digital refractometer is a vital piece of kit, I reckon. It uses <0.5 ml of liquid, at any temperature, which then cools very quickly to ambient once it's on the meter.

The read out is fast and clear. No peering down a tube at a vaguely hazy line!

Mine gets used several times on a brew day.

Go for it!

Guy

I have been using refractometers for winemaking for years, over a decade now I think about it.

Genuinely interested as to why you consider it vital for brewing ?

[guypettigrew]

I have been using refractometers for winemaking for years, over a decade now I think about it.

Genuinely interested as to why you consider it vital for brewing ?

Near instant read of gravity; during sparging so the sparge doesn't go on too long. 2 readings at least. At the beginning of the boil to calculate the mash efficiency. 2 readings again if the wort has been topped up before the boil Before adding the yeast to the FV to calculate overall efficiency. I don't bother with it during or after fermentation. Once the primary fermentation looks to be over I drop a hydrometer in the beer to make sure the gravity is where I want it to be and fermentation hasn't stalled.

But surely, MB, you already knew all that?

Guy

[MashBag]

Certainly during sparge was a new on on me. Thank you.

I use yeast in all its forms (food & bev) so my methods are taste based not arithmetic. I confess I have only used it with brewing for recipe design & development.

Ditto. After fermentation it's pointless (get it)

[john luc]

As above, I like to check the gravity as the brew day progress's and have being using my normal refractometer but like the ease of this. The Anton Paars models cost over £300 but this one from my mate Ali in China looks fair value and its my Birthday in January

[john luc]

https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005002 ... kLyF6&mp=1 I have being recommended this one.

[guypettigrew]

Looks good. This is the one I use. A bit more pricey than the Ali one, but came from a UK supplier so arrived quickly and I knew it would be easy enough to return if there was problem.

Guy

[MashBag]

Do it properly get a hanna.

[john luc]

If ya likes to spend money, Anton Paars is your man. Price is not listed so you have to click the Buy button. Motto is, if you have to ask how much it is, you can't afford it .