PCE beer refractometer PCE-DRW 1

The sugar content in the original wort is an important reference point for the brewer in the production of beer. The original wort denotes the content of nutrients even before the fermentation process begins. The digital beer refractometer from PCE has been specially designed to determine the sugar content in the wort. In this way, the brewer can determine the potential alcohol content of the beer obtained later. This is because the proportion of sugar is decisive for the alcohol content of the finished brewed beer.

The beer refractometer is an instrument based on the measurement of the refractive index of a liquid. With the help of the beer refractometer, the user can measure the concentration of sugar in the original wort even with a small sample quantity. To obtain a meaningful result, it is sufficient to drip a few drops of the liquid into the stainless steel well of the meter. A prism is enclosed in the sample well, and the sugar concentration in the original wort is measured in this way by means of light refraction.

The integrated light source in the digital beer refractometer prevents measurement errors that are quickly triggered by artificial light such as fluorescent lamps in an analog beer refractometer. After automatic temperature compensation (10 to 40 degrees Celsius), the measurement result is displayed quickly and precisely on the large, easy-to-read LC display of the beer refractometer. The user of the beer refractometer can choose between two different measuring units: Brix (0 to 50.00%) and D20/20 or relative density (1.000 to 1.130). In addition, thanks to an integrated temperature display, the display provides information about the measured temperature of the liquid. Compared to the classic beer spindle, which is used to measure the density of the original wort, the refractometer offers a clear time advantage.

The instrument requires only a few drops of liquid to display a precise result. This is a great advantage, especially when working with hot original wort, as a few drops of liquid cool down quickly. The glass prism of the beer refractometer, which is enclosed in the stainless steel bowl, can be cleaned easily and quickly before and after measurement and is closed with a plastic prism cover. The manufacturer has designed the beer refractometer to protect the glass prism from damage. The convenient three-button operation guarantees user-friendly handling and virtually eliminates the possibility of operating the beer refractometer incorrectly. The manufacturer has equipped the beer refractometer with an automatic switch-off function to conserve the meter’s battery. When not in use, the beer refractometer switches off automatically after one minute.

If necessary, the user can calibrate the beer refractometer himself at any time by adding a few drops of distilled water to the measuring well and initiating calibration by pressing a button. Applications A refractometer is an optical measuring instrument with which the user can determine the refractive index of liquid or solid substances. For hobby and professional brewers, the beer refractometer is one of the most important tools in beer production. Thanks to its user-friendly handling, the beer refractometer from PCE Instruments is perfectly suited to determine the sugar content of the original wort within seconds. Thanks to its handy and robust design, the beer refractometer can be used anytime and anywhere. Its simple operation, the waterproof housing and the flexible application possibilities make the Beer Refractometer from PCE Instruments irreplaceable when brewing beer and provide the brewer with important decision-making aids within a very short time.