HOME BREWING 101: Hydrometer vs Refractometer

[@TK-xm4en]

Well made, informative, to the point, and fun to watch! Thank you for helping me on my brewing journey! Subscribed.

[@stillbald5827]

Such a great video! I've been using the original Hydrometer I got when I started brewing a year ago. Dropping into the sample is indeed satisfying, but I hate throwing away that beer!

[@stillbald5827]

The quality of these videos is off the charts, BTW. I'm shocked you don't have a bigger audience yet!

[@TheBruSho]

@@stillbald5827 thank you so much for saying that! Hopefully I can reach more people soon!

[@TerryLR]

I use both. The refractometer is very nice for mash and boil measurements but I always take a hydrometer OG reading before pitching. I used to also use the refractometer during fermentation just because it's easier, but again I always use the hydrometer to get the FG reading. I just recently bought a Tilt Hydrometer to replace the refractometer during fermentation and that thing is really nice for monitoring fermentation progression and temperature - especially on lagers to determine when to raise the temp for diacetyl rest!

[@TheBruSho]

That’s awesome I’ve always been intrigued by the tilt. I might have to check one out!

[@JP-ri2or]

I've been brewing mead for a while, moving into beer. You're content is so solid. I've subbed. Hope you get the subs you deserve, I know I'll be spreading the good news.

[@TheBruSho]

Thanks so much for that, glad you are enjoying the content

[@rachelmalin8851]

So helpful & informational! 🍻

[@BobHerres]

Great video! Very professional. Thank you for sharing

[@TheBruSho]

Thank you for watching!

[@Woud_]

I've only brewed beer once through a kit (the simplified version of brewing) and used a hydrometer. Didn't know there was a different option! Definitely going try to find a refractor now. Using both seems the best way!

[@TheBruSho]

Always good to have some options! Cheers!

[@SingularityStudios]

i have learned so much in 1 night! thank you for all the knowledge, Trent! I am very interested in details of your kegging system

[@TheBruSho]

Haha thanks! Nothing too fancy, just a mini fridge with a single tap tower. Some day I’ll upgrade to a multi tap setup but for now it gets the job done just fine

[@mikegorton691]

thank you very much as i am a newbie to this and very helpful!

[@TheGingerBrewers]

Hey Trent, again very clear vid and well presented. We are the other way round... Refrac on brew day and hydro on FG. Super impressed on your brewing channel - keep it up. The Gingers! PS Dan has smashed a hydrometer 🤣🤣

[@TheBruSho]

Haha time to get Dan a Hercules hydrometer!

[@tman9338]

Thanks for the huge tip using conversion SW for post readings using refractometer. I also thought OG readings were more accurate using BRIX and converting to SG.

[@TheBruSho]

Yeah that conversion calc is a big one that people don’t know about, I know I was confused my first few times using it ha

[@Hellbrews]

I use the opposite, refractometer on brewday and hydrometer during fermentation, Cheers Trent 🍻🍻!

[@TheBruSho]

Well then maybe I gotta try it the other way!

[@nelathan]

I started off with a refractometer but now got myself a hydrometer for good FG readings. Also im not sure if some OG were correct, i suspect impurities other than sugar might have offset my reading. Especially for meads and wines with OG 1.11

[@TheBruSho]

Hydrometer are precise for sure! Can’t go wrong with always having one on hand

[@Mesktomten]

Great video! I more or less do the same as you, but still not :) I use a hydrometer on brewday for OG, and then a RAPT pill that records both gravity and temperature during fermentation without the need of neither small or big samples (and without risk of infection). I don't trust the pill fully though (and of course I want a taste of the beer as soon as possible) so once fermentation is done I get a sample for my hydrometer again to measure FG. I have only used a RAPT, so I honestly can't say whether TILT or RAPT or whatever other similar products there are is better.

[@PortlyGentleman]

Super concise video very nice 🍻

[@TheBruSho]

Thank you, cheers!

[@thehoppyhour6297]

Never had a refractometer, thx for the tip!

[@TheBruSho]

Get one to impress your friends with how scientific you are!

[@dantedeluca978]

When I'm doing brews I take samples of the mash, I regularly do extended mashes if the number continues to rise from 45 mins to 60, then I take every 10 mins till it stops significantly increasing.

[@TheBruSho]

That’s a great idea!

[@dantedeluca978]

@@TheBruSho also helps me identify went wrong, I was undershooting my gravity a few times, now it rules out under conversion and points to something wrong with my sparge, haven't massively undershot since I started doing this though.

[@TheBruSho]

@@dantedeluca978 that’s huge because it will give you a chance to adjust as needed. Might have to start doing that!

[@arieardhana2676]

Halo Brusho... Thank you for making this video. But i have a question: how i calculate ABV with hydrometer after i add some sugar after racking for back sweeten? For example i start fermentation on 1.100 than it's stop at 0.998, than i stop the fermentation and adding some sugar for back sweeten. My hydrometer reed 1.010 ? Thank you

[@vasquezmoule2695]

I'm just about to do my first ever Brewfest kit. Do I take a sample immediately before I yeast and then after the specified fermentation time? Thanks in advance

[@TheBruSho]

Hey welcome! Yes exactly. Take a measure to before adding yeast and then after fermentation time, usually good idea to check a couple days in a row near end to see if it’s actually done before moving to bottling.

[@bradcraddick3074]

Can you go into how to use the Refractometer Calculator? I'm unsure about what I should use for the Wort Correction Faction on the Original reading.

[@TheBruSho]

You can just leave that as 1 to get you a general sense of the reading. There is some calculating to get a precise Wort Correction Factor and maybe i'll cover it some day but it wont change your FG reading that much. Short Circuited Brewer has a video on it in the mean time!

[@trevgoldie]

Great info! Keep it up

[@TheBruSho]

Thanks man, appreciate the support!

[@dietrickholliday4188]

Hi Trent, I'm having trouble with using the conversion calculator. What is the "Wort Correction Factor" and how do I use it?

[@TheBruSho]

Wort correction is for the original gravity and something I didn’t cover here. But there is a refractometer Final gravity calculator that converts for reading to be more accurate based on the presence of alcohol

[@extendedp1]

Thanks for the video

[@TheBruSho]

Thanks for watching!

[@theboochstreamsclips9317]

Hey man, great video. I'm curious about kombucha. That'd what I make and I've heard the acidity in Booch can really mess up these two forms of measuring. Know much about it?

[@TheBruSho]

I haven’t heard that acidity messes up the measurements but the presence of alcohol will mess up the refractometer reading. So probably best to use hydrometer if you want to be precise. But I usually just go off taste on kombucha depending on how acidic or sweet I like it

[@soapsoilandsunshine3241]

Hi Trent. I am wanting to buy a refractometer. I also have honey bees. I have found one which measures Brix, Baume and Water % (required to see if honey is ready to harvest). Would this be ok for checking SG for beer/cider as well. I researched Baume and apparently it's an antiquated way of measuring SG.

[@TheBruSho]

Brix is a great way to measure sugar content, its what a lot of pro brewers use, and there are some easy calculators online to convert brix to SG if needed, so you should be fine with using that! Just remember that after fermentation starts you need to use a refractometer calculator to compensate for the presence of alcohol

[@soapsoilandsunshine3241]

@@TheBruSho Thanks Trent. I've ordered some heat tolerant yeast (Saison) and another one you recommended. Our summers get to mid to high 30's (86-95F) and even in winter our house gets to mid 20's (56F). So the heat is the real issue here sadly. Can't wait to get brewing. Hubby does wort beer brewing. I can't wait to try the green tea/melon brew and a seltzer as well. Any recommendations for brand of flavour to add. I can only find spirit flavours in Australia. Could I add "Soda-stream" flavours?

[@noodle845]

I found the refractometer i had was quite unreliable. It would read 0.0 in standard tap water, but then found it would be 4 or 5 points too low compared to a hydrometer when using hot wort. I always thoroughly stir the wort post-sparge to get an even sample and also take 3 readings with the refractometer and take the average. But still comes out way lower than it actually is. I'll be giving mine away and going back to the trusty hydrometer 😂

[@TheBruSho]

Haha yeah hydrometer is always a safe bet. But if you can find a quality refractometer they can be useful. But I tend to check mine against a hydrometer every now and then to be sure it’s still accurate

[@ericarevee4684]

When testing though the fermentation, what is your process to avoid contaminating the beer?

[@TheBruSho]

If my fermenter has a spigot I take a sample from that (super easy and safe) but if not then I use a sanitized spoon and collect from the top and just put a few drops on my refractometer. If you only have a hydrometer then I would use a wine thief to pull a sample for your hydrometer flask

[@ericarevee4684]

@@TheBruSho Thanks! I'll give that a try. I was using the pipet (sanitized) that came with my refractometer to grab a sample. I didn't like having to open the fermenter though.

[@TheBruSho]

@@ericarevee4684 yeah I was using that for a while too. I know it’s not ideal to open the fermenter but as long as you are being careful you shouldn’t be too concerned with oxidization.

[@TheAlchemistsBrewery]

I still use a hydrometer. Now I am more concerned about the taste and the mouthfeel than about the alcohol. I love session ales.

[@TheBruSho]

I just want to say thanks for all the comments!

[@TheAlchemistsBrewery]

Ok, I'll shut up now. But I still love cats...

[@Troscoman]

5:50 Well, thats no point to use a sanitized spoon, if you will let the liquid drip inside the fermenter, after touch the refractometer.

[@Troscoman]

4:45 Well, this is not true. The temperature is really important, it can change the readings, a lot.

[@nathanwdeal]

👍🏼

[@thevoice4758]

You only have to use a few drops on a refractometer. A refractometer is mostly used during brewing because it's fast and easy to use. A Hydrometer is used to determine the gravity before and after fermentation to calculate the ABV of the beer.

[@Creedlafreniere]

How do you use with mead

[@TheBruSho]

Same as you would for any sugary liquid. Drop a sample on the refractometer or drop the hydrometer in a sample.

[@southernguy35]

Boy, I've never seen someone so sure about something be so wrong. You may have broken a hydrometer by leaving it on a table and many people may have broken ONE hydrometer by carelessness, but after that, they stay in their box and usually in a protected place until needed. As far as chilling the wort I've always heard 60f and not 59f. Don't know where you got that 59f or that you have to chill your whole wort. You take a sample of the wort and cool it in the fridge. Then you get it to 60f to take your sample. The way you just dropped that hydrometer in the tester with liquid is beyond cringy. Drop it like that enough and you'll bust the bottom out of it. As far as non glass, I'd rather have glass than non glass. On the refractometer, did I actually see you pour wort over it over the fermenting container? Are you serious? Have you never made beer or wine before? You don't do that. You take a sample. There are little tube devices that you can dip into the liquid to pull up a sample. By doing what you did, you have exposed your brew to potentially germs and an infection. Beer will take an infection quicker than wine because beer isn't as acidic. When calibrating a refractometer, you're supposed to use DISTILLED WATER. And that eyepiece looked like it had lice on it. Sure you can make beer without either of these tools but you don't know when to bottle it. You're really naive to say this. If you bottle beer while the sugar level is too high, the bottle can literally explode. If you don't believe me, try to prove me wrong. This is why we need the downvote button.

[@user-qjvqfjv]

You just throw away the sample for hydrometer testing? Are you insane? What a waste of beer. Just sanitize the graduated cylinder and hydrometer and gently pour it back in.