Plato/Brix and Beersmith

Systems, Gear, & DIY
1

Does anyone use Plato in Beersmith?

I bought a refractometer (the one with the brix scale only) and am using it along with Morebeers spreadsheet to track the gravity of my last brew. I have also been taking a reading with a hydrometer. So far the reading in the spreadsheet and the hydrometer have matched, but when I switch measurements in Beersmith, the program tells me that the final gravity estimate much lower than the brix reading I am getting with the refactometer. Is this because Beersmith doesn’t account for the alcohol but the spreadsheet does?

Thanks!
Dano

2

As far as I know, yes.  The FG estimates in beersmith are for hydrometers, regardless of the scale you are using.

3

No, it’s because the reading from the refractometer isn’t the actual gravity in Brix/Plato. It’s just an estimated SG based on an assumed relationship between the refractive index and the sugar content. When there’s alcohol in solution, that assumption is no longer accurate.

http://seanterrill.com/2010/06/11/refractometer-estimates-of-final-gravity/

4

Thanks Tom and Sean!

If anyone using a refractometer hasn’t seen/used the MoreBeer spreadsheet it seems to be pretty good!
http://morebeer.com/public/beer/refractbeer.xls

Thanks!
Dano

5

That hasn’t been my experience, but of course if it works for you that’s all that matters.

6

I’ve got to agree with Sean, the morebeer sheet doesn’t work for me.  Sean’s is better IME. :slight_smile:

7

MoreBeer’s is the only one I have used and I am still checking the results against the hydrometer.

I’ll use both for awhile, not that I doubt that Sean’s is more accurate.