Why is the mash temperature important when measuring pH in brewing?

Measuring the pH of beer during the mashing stage is integral for achieving the most consistent and reliable results when brewing beer commercially. Mash pH plays a significant role in the final product, affecting your beer's taste, colour and stability. Read on to learn more about why temperature is key to getting an accurate reading for your mash:

How does mash temperature affect pH readings?

When measuring the pH of mash, it’s important that your test is conducted using a cooled sample that has been removed from the main body of the wort. While pH meters for beer have temperature compensation, the temperature of the wort has a direct impact on the pH reading you will receive when measuring your sample.

When the temperature of a sample is above 25°C - room temperature - the pH of the sample is reduced. This can mean that wort that appears within the correct pH range when measured at its typical temperature is higher than recorded, resulting in unexpected differences in the final product. 

For commercial operations, where consistency is key in meeting nutrition requirements and brand recognisability, an incorrect reading of pH can lead to a significant amount of wastage and cost. Ensuring your wort sample has cooled to room temperature ensures your results are accurate every time, within the acceptable 5.2-5.6 pH range for most beer types.

In the case of meters with temperature compensation like the HI-98167, it's important for the pH electrode and sample to be the same temperature, known as thermal equilibrium, for readings of pH to be accurate.

How can you accurately measure the pH of the mash?

Using a pH meter is the ideal way to accurately measure the pH of mash samples. The HI-98167 is Hanna’s recommended professional solution for the measurement of pH in beer at all stages in the brewing process. This full-featured pH meter has an internal temperature sensor and features a purpose-designed electrode for the brewing industry, providing consistently accurate readings to achieve the best results for every single batch of beer. Buy this pH meter for beer here.

The HI-98167 can be combined with the HI-935012 portable beer thermometer to directly measure the temperature of beer throughout the mashing, boiling and fermenting stages, where this parameter is just as important as pH for achieving the ideal end result. This handheld thermometer features a 1m stainless steel probe that is designed to be easily used in beer kettles and other small spaces. Buy it here.

Buy beer mash pH meters and testing instrumentation from Hanna Instruments

Hanna Instruments stocks a wide range of instrumentation for brewing businesses, including advanced beer pH meters, simple mash testers and sugar refractometers.

Browse the full range of brewing instruments online today, or get in contact with our in-house brewery testing experts directly at 01525 850 855 or via email at sales@hannainstruments.co.uk to discuss your requirements.