Best Refractometer For Brewing Beer

If you are brewing beer at home, you need the best refractometer for brewing beer. To make a tastier beer, you need to check its sugar level before fermentation. And, this is where the best refractometer for brewing beer comes handy.

Refractometers are the tools that measure the refraction through a beer, and more sugar means more refraction. There are too many other things that you need to check with a refractometer while brewing beer. No doubt, that hygrometer also works well, but they are less accurate and waste a lot of beer as well.

So, it is better to buy the best refractometer for brewing beer. We understand that shopping for the best refractometer for brewing beer is a bit overwhelming, so we are here to help you. In this article, you come to know about the features of the best refractometer for brewing beer.

 

Best Refractometer Reviews

1. Milwaukee Instruments MA871 Digital Brix

The Milwaukee MA871 Digital instrument is capable of giving accurate readings in regard to the salinity of your brewing beer. The two yellow LED display allows you to read the readings easily, and you won’t need any extra light for this.

One of the best things about this refractometer is that it has an automatic temperature compensation feature. This unit displays the salinity, specific gravity, and temperature of the brewing beer. Being digital and fast, it displays readings within a few seconds.

Further, this refractometer is useful for many other applications, including laboratories and large scale industries. The error margin is +/- 0.2, which makes it an ideal refractometer for you. Also, this digital refractometer is not very expensive as compare to other refractometers. You don’t need to do any calculation as this instrument will automatically doo all measurements for your beer.

Key features:

• The Milwaukee MA87i is a great choice for industrial applications
• Features automatic temperature compensation
• It gives accurate readings within a few seconds
• The error margin is only +/-2 PSU,
• It can also display results in different units

 

2. Ade Advanced Optics BCBI9177 Beer Wort

Are you looking for the best refractometer for brewing beer?

If yes, then look no further than Ade Advanced Optics BCBI9177. According to the reviews, it is the best and handy refractometer for beer lovers. This tool offers great accuracy and displays reading within several seconds.

The company has tested it many times against typical hydrometers to note the exact gravity readings, and it offers a 0.1% error, which is very small. You can calibrate it easily by putting it in a distilled water sample. The Brix meter of it goes all the way to zero when you put it in distilled water. And, after that, your instrument is ready to take readings of your beer.

Further, this refractometer includes automatic temperature compensation and measures temperature from 10 – 30 degrees Celsius. It is the best replacement for your outdated hydrometer. Moreover, this best refractometer for brewing beer comes with two scales that can measures both Brix and SG. The company offers two years warranty on this product. Buy now!

Key features:

• Specific Gravity readings are very accurate
• Easy calibrate as Brix value can go to zero
• Display readings within a few seconds
• There is automatic temperature adjustment or compensation
• Comes with nice accessories such as a pipette and a screwdriver

 

3. Tiaoyeer Brix Refractometer with ATC

Buy the best refractometer for brewing beer from Tiaoyeer. This Brix Refractometer comes with auto temperature compensation, which you can use for sugar and fruits too. This instrument can measure Brix between 0-32%±0.2% and a specific gravity between 1.000-1.130. It offers an error of +/-0.2%, which is again very small.

With the help of its pipette, you can easily take the sample to measure the required readings. Being made from premium quality material, this refractometer can withstand chipping and corrosion. It lasts for years while giving you accurate results for brewing beer.

Use this device to measure the specific gravity of your beer before fermentation. It is the best refractometer for brewing beer and for home brewers too. You can check the number of fermentable sugars with ease.

Key features:

• It is reliable refractometer that comes with a dual scale.
• measures specific gravity and the Brix accurately
• Measure brix ranging between 0 and 32
• There is a plastic case, a calibration screwdriver, and a pipette.
• Easy to use and durable as compare to the hygrometer

 

4. Rhino Handheld Refractometer

This is one of the best refractometers for brewing beer. Being home brewer, you must buy this refractometer to check the sugar level before fermentation. The Rhino refractometer can measure Brix between 0 – 32% with an error of 0.2%. The surface of this refractometer is to wear resistance, corrosion resistance, electrostatic prevention, and anti-stick.

The best part is that it is pocket-friendly and you can carry it with you anywhere you want. Further, you use it to measure the sugar in juices and fruits as well, along with wines. This device is a great option for homebrewers that help you to measure specific gravity.

Rhino handheld refractometers also come with two years warranty. Buy this easy to carry and easy to use refractometer today to make tasty beer at home. This tool is very useful for home brewing beer or for laborites. Buy now!

Key features:

• Measures an accurate Brix and the specific gravity values
• The refractometer is easy to carry
• The rubber grip gives you a solid hold
• Measure the sugar in juices and fruits
• Easy calibration setting

 

5. Barambee Portable Brix Refractometer

Are you new to commercially brewing beer and looking for the best refractometer for brewing beer?

If yes, then this portable refractometer from Barambee is a great option for you. It’s easy to read measurements and accuracy help you to know the right sugar level in your beer. This is another well-appreciated refractometer that lasts for years.

The quality rubber part of this tool allows you to hold it tightly, and it does not get slip out of your hand. The best part is that it comes with auto temperature compensation that makes it easy to calibrate before sing.

This refractometer has automatic temperature compensation from 10 to 30 Celsius, and it comes with a sample plate, head screwdriver, and a protective case. Further, this Portable Brix Refractometer measures Brix between 0-32% and a specific gravity between 1.000-1.130. It is ideal for homebrew, winemaking, gardening purposes, and beverages. Above all, the company offers a money-back guarantee too. Buy now!

Key features:

• The temperature is adjusted automatically
• The rubber exterior help with careful handle
• It comes with a protective case
• A pipette for retrieving samples
• Durable material

 

How To Choose The Best Refractometer For Brewing Beer?

Easy to calibrate

The refractometer needs to be calibrated carefully before use. And, you can calibrate most of the refractometers by using a sample of distilled water. Adjust the best refractometer for brewing beer to zero while distilled water is in it. So, always buy the refractometer, which is easy to calibrate and clean as well.

Automatic Temperature Compensation

Automatic temperature compensation is the essential feature that your refractometer should have. The best refractometer for brewing beer has ATC that can measure the wide range of practical temperatures.

Digital display

A refractometer that comes with digital display is easy to read even for a novice. So, always buy the best refractometer for brewing beer that has a digital display.

Material

Before buying the refractometer, check its material and portability as well. Choose the one that is made from premium quality material, which does not break easily and lasts for years. Also, buy the refractometer, which gets fit easily in your bag or pocket so you can carry it easily anywhere you want.

 

Which Is Accurate Refractometer Or Hydrometer?

When you are brewing beer, you need the right tool to measure specific gravity and sugar levels. Both hydrometer and refractometer help in measuring the specific gravity of the beer. But the refractometer is a more advance tool.

Unlike a hydrometer, you do not need to waste beer while measuring with a refractometer. Refractometers work on the principle of refraction of light to measure sugar levels in liquids. The denser the liquid is, the more light will refract. So, refractometers are more accurate than hydrometers.

Plus, refractometers are small in size and can fit easily in the pocket as well.  So, this a great option if you want an accurate measurement for brewing beer.

Whether you need the measuring tool for your brewing beer, winemaking, fruits, or gardening, always buy the best refractometer. Replace your outdated hydrometer with the best refractometer for brewing beer.

 

How To Use The Best Refractometer For Brewing Beer?

Calibrating Your Refractometer

Before measuring the sugar levels in beer, calibrate your refractometer. You can use distilled water to calibrate the refractometer.  Lift up the sample plate and add a few drops of the distilled water over it. Now, close the daylight plate and let the distilled water spread over it.

Make sure that your plate is free from any bubbles.

Now, if you want more accurate readings, then calibrate the refractometer using a wort sample with the known value of specific gravity.

Use Refractometer for Beer Brewing

Now, when you are done with calibration, use the best refractometer for brewing beer to measure the sugar levels in beer. You can do it in a very similar way to what you did during calibration.

Lift up the sample plate clean it, and then add a few drops of beer. Again, if the beer is hot, allow it to come to room temperature. Close the plate, check bubbles.

Not the reading in the refractometer is very easy and accurate too. The reading most likely comes in percent/degrees Brix or RI.

Clean and store

Once you used your refractometer, clean it and place it in a safe place. Try to place it from where you find easily and protect it from fall. When you care for your tool and store carefully, it will last for years and give you accurate results too.

 

Conclusion

Making a tastier beer needs proper examination and measurements. When you are brewing beer, you should check proper sugar levels with the help the best refractor for brewing beer.

You can any refractor from the above list as these all are accurate, portable and easy to use. Buy today!