Using a Refractometer in Place of Hydrometer to Manage Ferm.

[copperstill]

This is a link that a friend of mine just emailed to me. I thinks is pretty cool and was wondering if anybody might see if this works with mash and anything else they are running if they have a Refractometer. I'm in the middle of moving so my rig is shut down for the next month.

http://valleyvintner.com/Refrac_Hydro/Refract_Hydro.htm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" rel="nofollow

[junkyard dawg]

that link didn't work for me...

All I know about refractometers comes from this page from stpats.com Click on the closeout refractometer and it has a little info. I bought one of the 15 dollar ones, because well, it was 15 dollars and have used it some. I like that it only takes a drop or two to test. That it can't be used after fermentation starts really limits its use tho...

what where the details you were referring to?

[copperstill]

I just clicked on it and it worked fine for me the hyperlink that is
This is the information and a excel sheet that shows how to use a refracometer for testing brix during fermetation not just in the begining before the start of fermentation. Its really cool

[junkyard dawg]

It worked this morning. Very cool stuff. Thanks for sharing that

[blind drunk]

Anybody else use one? It could come in handy for maceration, etc, where the abv gets messed up during the making ... More interested in using it in the final product to establish the abv, not for fermentation. A hydrometer is fine for that!

[Dnderhead]

from my understanding a refractometer just like a hydrometer is not accurate unless the wash/ferment/distillate is clear ,any sugars ,trub/fruit juice etc. can throw the reading off.

[Samohon]

from my understanding a refractometer just like a hydrometer is not accurate unless the wash/ferment/distillate is clear ,any sugars ,trub/fruit juice etc. can throw the reading off.

+2... I use a Refractometer for my AG's/beers/some washes. If the resulting wort is cloudy, as most are, then the reading from the refractometer has to be approximated as the instrument is refracting light through the wort to give that reading, making the reading line misty. In beers and some of my AG's, I always perform a vorlof procedure to enable that the husk forms a bed that results in clearer wort being taken off during a sparge to the first runnings, but its never crystal clear. This is performed to rid the wort of as much micro-husk as possible as this can lead to the dreaded off-flavours...

For beers/wines, where abv can be a big factor/part in determining the quality of the beverage, this can be important, and I use a very fine syringe filter to separate any solids from the small sample (2 or 3 drops) taken to read, but for the purpose of washes for distillation, an approximation will suffice using a hydrometer and taste. After all, when the yeast have fermented all that is available in the wash, we are gonna strip/distill the alcohol out of the wash...

Page worked for me too, nice explanation on the effect of different refractive index's with a wort/must containing ethanol...

[blind drunk]

I was thinking more along the lines of determining, and correcting if necessary, a distillate's final abv after I've macerated some fruit, or added some sugar., etc. That sort of thing.

vorlof procedure

Dang, I'll have to look that one up!