How to measure the sugar content of wort in brewing

Measuring the correct parameters in commercial beermaking is vital for achieving the same taste, texture and alcohol content that your customers expect from your brewery. Alongside the pH of your mash and wort, the sugar content of your wort is also an important parameter to monitor to determine the outcome of your brewing. Read on to learn how to measure wort sugar with a refractometer:

Why is the sugar content of wort important?

The measurement of sugar in wort is a key part of managing the fermentation process. Brewers measure this sugar content in specific gravity, or °Plato, as this provides insight into the concentration of the wort.

As fermentation continues, sugar concentration reduces as it is converted into alcohol. Monitoring this parameter provides accurate information about the final alcohol content of beer, allowing for greater consistency in the final product - a requirement for commercial beer production.

How to measure the sugar content of wort with a refractometer

Using a refractometer is the ideal method for identifying the sugar content in wort by measuring °Plato. Here are the steps required to measure sugar in beer wort with a suitable digital refractometer, such as the HI-96841 beer sugar meter:

1. Wipe off the prism surface and ensure both the prism and sample well are completely dry
2. Using a pipette, drop a small amount of wort sample onto the prism surface to fill the well entirely
3. Press the READ key to see the digital results of testing on the screen in units of % °Plato
4. Absorb the sample with a soft tissue then clean the pipette, prism and sample well by rinsing with distilled or deionised water before wiping dry

If the sample you’d like to measure differs significantly from room temperature or the temperature of the instrument, wait one minute for thermal equilibration before beginning the testing process. This helps to ensure accuracy in testing.

About the HI-96841 refractometer

The HI-96841 Sugar Refractometer is a practical and portable way to easily measure sugar in units of  % °Plato. This lightweight instrument can easily be carried anywhere on-site and is specifically designed for brewing applications. A tiny sample size of 0.1mL is required for measurement, preventing wastage, while single-button operation saves time in testing.

This beer refractometer also features a temperature compensation algorithm and is fast and easy to calibrate, ensuring consistency in testing results. This method of testing wort is convenient and cost-effective while maintaining exceptional accuracy, making it an ideal choice for commercial breweries.

Buy beer testers at Hanna Instruments today

Hanna stocks a wide range of beer testers and meters for breweries on our website with free next-day delivery for all products in stock. Browse the full range of beer testing instrumentation online now, or get in touch with our experts directly for advice and free demonstrations.

Call us on 01525 850 855 or get in touch via email at sales@hannainstruments.co.uk to discuss your requirements.