Digital Refractometer Recommendations

Systems, Gear, & DIY
1

I’m in the market for a digital refractometer. I’m in my mid 60’s and it’s getting a bit harder to read the numbers depending on the light source.
But to quote Denny - Life begins at 60…1.060, that is! So I’m a 1.060 guy!

Any suggestions would be appreciated.

2

I’ve had a Hanna digital refractometer (model HI 96811) for about 10 years. Works great.

3

I have a Milwaukee MA871

4

Do you have any comments on the Milwaukee Refractometer? I assume you like it. Thanks

5

Yeah, I like it a lot and it seems to be accurate. Easy to use and clean.  If I had my wits about me I think I would have gotten one that reads in P rather than B, but it’s not a big deal.

6

Thanks mainebrewer and denny for your comments!

7

Well I ordered the Milwaukee MA871 today as it is $44 cheaper in price than the Hanna one. The Milwaukee has good reviews and I like their pH meter.

8

Denny, I just looked at the MA871 online and didn’t see one that measured in degrees Plato rather than Brix.  I know the two are almost interchangeable so it is really no big deal but was just curious if you ever found one online?  Am considering getting one since my eyes are getting older.  ;D

9

Yeah, I now I saw one right after I bought mine.  I’ll see if I can still find it.

ETA: turns out the one I was thinking of is a Hanna, not Milwaukee. It looks just the same but a different color.  Digital Refractometer for Brewing - HI96841

But I agree the Brix isn’t a big deal.  I use an android app called Brew King to do conversions.

10

I use the conversion in Beer Smith and it works well for me.

11

I’m sure it does, but I’m not using Beersmith.

12

I got the Milwaukee MA871 this week from Amazon. I used it to check gravity of a IPA that I thought was at FG from refractometer readings. The MA871 read 1.016 and the Brewing America Hydrometer was 1.015 for FG. SG for the IPA was 1.076. I love this brewing tool as it is so easy to use compared to an optical refractometer and you get an instant reading. I wish I purchased this a long time ago. The refractometer reading for FG was calculated using the Brewers Friend refractometer calculator.

13

Look at this https://www.easydens.com
I have one and it works great