Making your own beer at home is an increasingly popular hobby in the UK. Whether you are home brewing beer for yourself or planning to gift DIY craft beer to friends and family, utilising the correct tools is important to achieve the ideal outcome. pH is one parameter that is vital to measure when making beer. Learn more below:

Why measure pH when brewing?

The pH level of mash as well as the pH of beer during fermentation and when boiling has a direct impact on the taste and palatability of the end product. Ensuring you measure pH at each stage in the process can prevent problems with your beer by providing the information you need to include additives, such as lactic acid, to bring your pH to the correct level. Consistency in pH between different batches of beer is integral to achieving the same taste each time.

Measuring pH with an accurate digital tester provides access to clear, easy-to-read results at each stage in the brewing process. Unlike test strips for pH that require personal perception of results, an electronic beer pH tester provides clear information on a screen about the pH level of your beer. This precise number allows you to make smaller adjustments to bring pH to the right level with less risk of overcorrection.

How to measure pH with Halo2

Halo2 is Hanna’s Bluetooth pH electrode tester, available in a wide range of different configurations for measuring beer, chocolate, bread, meat and more. This practical digital tester range includes a purpose-built solution for measuring mash, cooled wort and beer accurately and reliably. 

Here’s how to measure pH in beer with Halo2:

1. Press the ON/OFF button to turn on the tester
2. Connect to the Hanna Lab App on your smartphone or tablet
3. Place the electrode in the sample to begin the measurement
4. Press the ON/OFF button again to tag the measurement in the app

The Halo2 pH tester for beer is specifically designed with an electrode that prevents clogs caused by solids-rich substances like mash and wort. This electronic tester is the perfect gift for beer makers and brewers for the easy and accurate measurement of pH.

When should you measure pH in brewing?

While it’s important to measure pH at each of these stages, the reason for measurement is slightly different:

• Mash: the pH of mash for beer affects how efficiently starch is converted to sugar. A relatively narrow range of 5.2 - 5.6 pH gives the ideal conditions for the enzymes within the mash to extract sugar. Mash that is outside of this pH range can taste dry, astringent or even metallic.
• Boil: The pH of wort during the boiling phase affects the clarity, stability and colour formation of the beer. A pH of 5.0 - 5.5 produces good results from boiling, with the lower end helping to achieve a stronger protein break.
• Fermentation: Much like the boiling stage, a pH around the lower end of the range above helps to ensure stability, improving shelf life. During this phase, the pH should drop down to around 4.5 pH for the completed beer.

Buy Halo2 pH testers for brewers from Hanna Instruments UK

Hanna’s Halo2 pH testers make the perfect present for craft brewers, providing accurate and reliable digital pH measurements. Buy the Halo2 for beer online today with free next-day delivery, or learn more about our range of Bluetooth testers for food here to discover electrodes for dough, cheese, sushi and other niche applications.