Measuring equipment for homebrewing – hydrometers, refractometers, pH meters and thermometers

Here you will find the measuring equipment that keeps your brewing under control: hydrometers and refractometers for measuring sugar content (SG) and alcohol, pH meters with calibration solutions, thermometers, digital meters such as Tilt and EasyDens, scales, temperature controllers and lab supplies such as pipettes, test jars and borosilicate bottles. Brands include Alla France, Milwaukee, Anton Paar, Tilt, Inkbird and VWR.

How to choose measuring equipment

Gravity and alcohol: the hydrometer with test jar reads 0.990–1.160 SG, 0–35 Brix and 0–20 % potential alcohol. The sample must be cooled. A refractometer needs only a few drops and suits readings during the mash and boil.
Continuous readings in the fermenter: the Tilt floats in the beer and sends SG and temperature to your phone. EasyDens from Anton Paar is a digital hydrometer that logs SG before and after fermentation in an app.
pH: the Milwaukee PH55 Pro reads pH to ±0.1 and has two-point calibration and automatic temperature compensation. pH strips for beer in the 3.8–5.5 and 5.2–6.8 ranges are a low-cost alternative.
Temperature: brewing systems often have a sensor in the base, but an external thermometer gives an extra check. The Inkbird ITC-308 WiFi controls both cooling and heating during fermentation.
Scales: the 1000 g Blade Scale for hops and salts, and a 50 kg scale for malt.

Instrument	Measures	Range and accuracy
Hydrometer with test jar	SG, Brix, potential alcohol	0.990–1.160 SG
Refractometer	SG and Brix	1.000–1.120 SG, 0–32 Brix, ±0.001 SG
Tilt	SG and temperature	0.990–1.120 SG ±0.002, ±0.5 °C
Milwaukee PH55 Pro	pH and temperature	−2.0 to 16.0 pH, ±0.1 pH

Frequently asked questions about measuring equipment

What is the difference between a hydrometer and a refractometer?

A hydrometer floats in a sample of around 100–250 ml of cooled wort or beer. A refractometer reads a few drops and has automatic temperature compensation, so it suits frequent readings during brew day.

How do I measure the alcohol content of beer?

Measure the gravity before fermentation (OG) and after fermentation (FG). The difference gives the alcohol, as a rule of thumb (OG − FG) × 131.25. A hydrometer with a potential alcohol scale shows it directly.

Which calibration solutions does a pH meter need?

The PH55 Pro is calibrated at two points with pH 4.01 and pH 7.01 buffers, which are included. Store the electrode in storage solution and clean it with cleaning solution.