# SRM question **URL:** \ **Category:** General Homebrew Discussion\ **Created:** [April 23, 2014, 3:13pm UTC](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/t/srm-question/16492 "2014-04-23T15:13:56Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 12\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![system](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/brewersassociation/original/1X/f1a2211dcb353b921ed70873794a31db2031eccc.png) [@system](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/u/system)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2014, 3:13pm UTC](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/t/srm-question/16492/1 "2014-04-23T15:13:56Z")
The beer picture thread got me thinking about SRM, What do you think the SRM’s of these two beers are? Beersmith lists the left at 8.7, what do you think the one on the right is? Mid 7? ---
**Author:** ![goschman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e495f1/32.png) [@goschman](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/u/goschman)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2014, 3:22pm UTC](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/t/srm-question/16492/2 "2014-04-23T15:22:49Z")
Ha! A pic that I recently posted is estimated by beersmith as 7.8 and is much darker than both of those. It has been quite a source of confusion for me. The only conclusion that I have come to is that what was labelled as vienna malt was something else. Sorry to go off topic… I have a blonde ale that looks similar to the one on the right. It is on the dark side for a blonde ale and is estimated at 5.6. My perception has obviously been decieved by what beersmith is telling me… ---
**Author:** ![system](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/brewersassociation/original/1X/f1a2211dcb353b921ed70873794a31db2031eccc.png) [@system](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/u/system)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2014, 3:35pm UTC](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/t/srm-question/16492/3 "2014-04-23T15:35:59Z")
It’s really hard to get a feel from one picture, since it will depend a lot on the lighting.  I’d guess 10 and 7? ---
**Author:** ![denny](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/brewersassociation/user_avatar/forum.homebrewersassociation.org/denny/32/13092_2.png) [@denny](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/u/denny)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2014, 3:41pm UTC](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/t/srm-question/16492/4 "2014-04-23T15:41:42Z")
Impossible to tell since everyone’s monitors will look a bit different.  Not to mention that I doubt you used calibrated lighting. ---
**Author:** ![system](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/brewersassociation/original/1X/f1a2211dcb353b921ed70873794a31db2031eccc.png) [@system](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/u/system)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2014, 3:55pm UTC](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/t/srm-question/16492/5 "2014-04-23T15:55:14Z")
Ok, let me pose it like then… Judging by the two beers sitting next to each other in the same light… what do you feel is the SRM difference between them? 1? less? ---
**Author:** ![dkfick](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/brewersassociation/user_avatar/forum.homebrewersassociation.org/dkfick/32/10751_2.png) [@dkfick](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/u/dkfick)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2014, 4:00pm UTC](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/t/srm-question/16492/6 "2014-04-23T16:00:43Z")
On my screen the one on the right is noticeably lighter so I would say 4 SRM difference. Though obviously these would just be pulled out of my butt… The BeerSmith SRM estimator is just that an estimator.  I don’t believe it takes into account darkening of the wort from the boil.  I have found it always to estimate low for me due to my very hard boils. ---
**Author:** ![denny](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/brewersassociation/user_avatar/forum.homebrewersassociation.org/denny/32/13092_2.png) [@denny](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/u/denny)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2014, 4:32pm UTC](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/t/srm-question/16492/7 "2014-04-23T16:32:55Z")
To me, the one on the right looks very slightly darker. ---
**Author:** ![skatz](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/brewersassociation/user_avatar/forum.homebrewersassociation.org/skatz/32/6982_2.png) [@skatz](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/u/skatz)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2014, 5:01pm UTC](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/t/srm-question/16492/8 "2014-04-23T17:01:03Z")
There appears to be darker stuff behind the left example. That certainly can cause a difference. ---
**Author:** ![klickitat\_jim](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/brewersassociation/user_avatar/forum.homebrewersassociation.org/klickitat_jim/32/6601_2.png) [@klickitat\_jim](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/u/klickitat_jim)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2014, 5:04pm UTC](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/t/srm-question/16492/9 "2014-04-23T17:04:42Z")
Set them together in full light, like outside on a deck rail. ---
**Author:** ![a10t2](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/brewersassociation/user_avatar/forum.homebrewersassociation.org/a10t2/32/6257_2.png) [@a10t2](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/u/a10t2)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2014, 5:06pm UTC](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/t/srm-question/16492/10 "2014-04-23T17:06:27Z")
> [@klickitat\_jim](#): > > Set them together in full light, like outside on a deck rail. With a sheet of white paper behind them, visible around the edge so that we can all do a calibration. ---
**Author:** ![system](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/brewersassociation/original/1X/f1a2211dcb353b921ed70873794a31db2031eccc.png) [@system](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/u/system)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2014, 5:13pm UTC](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/t/srm-question/16492/11 "2014-04-23T17:13:58Z")
Roger that will do. Thanks ---
**Author:** ![weithman5](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/brewersassociation/user_avatar/forum.homebrewersassociation.org/weithman5/32/9958_2.png) [@weithman5](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/u/weithman5)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2014, 8:30pm UTC](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/t/srm-question/16492/12 "2014-04-23T20:30:10Z")
my brew math app has 13 and 10 respectively. i do like the clarity