Digital Hydrometer

Buona Fortuna

Is there such a thing?

In my brief brewing career I've grown to hate the delicate glass floaty thing, that I can't see the reading of half the time.

Is there a digital alternative. Something that costs about a fiver with a probe that you just stick in the soup and it gives you the SG.

Do I ask too much?

n97 mini

Digital density meter. They're about a grand. The likes of Guinness use them.

Buona Fortuna

Thanks

What about this http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B00E4J3NY8?psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s00

RasTa

Yeah a refractometer is what you need. Also good for getting an accurate pre-boil gravity reading. I'd only buy it if you're doing all grain.

Buona Fortuna

So will that thing I linked do the job?

RasTa

Buona Fortuna wrote: »

So will that thing I linked do the job?

Yup, might not ship to Ireland as it's a private Amazon seller. Another one is €52 from here

http://www.homebrewwest.ie/refractometer-0-170-oe--0-25-vol--atc-2182-p.asp

Buona Fortuna

RasTa wrote: »

Yup, might not ship to Ireland as it's a private Amazon seller. Another one is €52 from here

http://www.homebrewwest.ie/refractometer-0-170-oe--0-25-vol--atc-2182-p.asp

No they do, and it qualified for free shipping (order over £25).

BeerNut

Aren't refractometers problematic once there's alcohol in the beer?

Elbow

Not cheap but https://www.thebeerbug.com/gettingStarted/

Buona Fortuna

BeerNut wrote: »

Aren't refractometers problematic once there's alcohol in the beer?

I guess I'll find out soon enough

Elbow wrote: »

Not cheap but https://www.thebeerbug.com/gettingStarted/

Well £20 on Amazon is worth a punt but $250, I think not.

I get by sticking my SGs in an Excel spreadsheet, at times I think I'm over-egging it, but sending the readings up to the cloud would be Arrowroot for the Donkey - plus I'm grateful for the days we get 1Mb here.

Hingo

BeerNut wrote: »

Aren't refractometers problematic once there's alcohol in the beer?

Yes but they're handy for getting pre-boil gravity in All Grain too see how your mash went.

Refractometer before pitching, Hydrometer after. The Hydrometer will give you the same result either way, just the refractometer is that bit more exact for OG, so to be honest I'd see it only as a 'Nice to have' purchase.

oblivious

BeerNut wrote: »

Aren't refractometers problematic once there's alcohol in the beer?

Yea, there are correction table. But its can be problematic. Refectromator make assumptions about sugar content, that is not linear to proteins/lipis in fermented beer

groom

I got one from aliexpress for i think $18 . I'd imagine the amazon one is of similar quality. Grand for estimating preboil gravities but I don't trust it completely. It's given some strange readings for final gravity. Should be used in conjunction with a hydrometer