What is the Best Refractometer for Brewing, Salinity and Honey?

Introduction

A refractometer is a tool that measures the index of refraction of a liquid (the bending of light through a prism).

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It can be used for:

Beer Brewing
Wine Making
Determining the salinity of water for marine aquariums
Measuring the amount of water in honey and more

To find the best refractometers, I consulted the experts on each of the above subjects, scouted forums, and tested some of them myself so you wouldn’t have to.

Brands

Quick Reviews

Here are a couple of quick reviews of the top 3 Refractometers of 2021.

Milwaukee Instruments MA871 Digital Brix Refractometer Review

This is hands down the best refractometer for brewing, honey production, and winemaking.

It’s fairly expensive, but it also has the largest Brix range out of all of the ones we tested so you can work with beer and wine (Brix range 0-32) and then use this same product to check the amount of water in honey (Brix range 75-90).

It’s expensive compared to the rest of the items on this list because it’s the only digital refractometer on here. Other digital refractometers can go as high as $500-$10,000, but this one provides the biggest bang for the buck.

The refractometry measurements change based on the temperature of the substance, but since these products account for the different temperatures, you don’t have to worry about that. Just put the sample inside the refractometer and wait for a minute or so for the sensor to get to the same temperature as your sample.

Don’t forget to clean the refractometer between uses, so you don’t contaminate your future samples and get skewed results!

Agriculture Solutions Salinity Refractometer for Seawater and Marine Fishkeeping Aquarium Review

You should only buy this refractometer if you plan on using it to measure the salinity of the water.

It’s a high-quality product, but it does not have a Brix scale, so if you’re looking for a refractometer for brewing beer or something else sugar-related, then this one isn’t for you.

When you receive it, it will most likely be uncalibrated so in order to calibrate it here are the steps to follow:

Put in some distilled water or reverse osmosis water.
Use a screwdriver to set it to zero. (There is a screw hidden in the middle of the device under the back cover.)

Overall this is a great product, and it’s highly recommended by people in the industry.

Ade Advanced Optics Beer Wort and Wine Refractometer Review

This product is perfect for you if you’re looking for a durable and cheap device for brewing or winemaking.

It can measure the specific gravity of the wort, and it quickly cools hot wort to acceptable measuring temperature.

Keep in mind that you can only measure original gravity with refractometers.

If you want to measure the gravity of your product after fermenting, you need a hydrometer.

My device came already calibrated, but some people had to recalibrate theirs at home, so make sure to check yours right after it comes and calibrate it with distilled water if needed.

It does measure Brix, but it can only go from 0-32%, so sadly, you can’t use this product with honey or maple syrup making.

This product is very highly recommended on many online brewing forums, and one of my friends, who is a fairly experienced brewer, is in love with it.

Refractometer Uses

Refractometers work by measuring the index of refraction, and they’re used in many fields.

Here’s a quick summary of their possible uses.

In Brewing

A refractometer is used to measure the amount of sugar in your wort.

You don’t need to do any conversions when getting the specific gravity before fermentation, but if you’re trying to get it after then, you should use a hydrometer.

In marine aquariums

Most reefs require a very specific level of water salinity, and a refractometer allows you to measure it and make sure that it’s at the level that you want.

For Beekeeping

Refractometers are used to measure the level of moisture in honey in order to figure out if it’s the right time to harvest it.

If the moisture level is too high, the honey can ferment, and you’ll have lots of unhappy customers.

The right level of moisture in honey is around 17-19%.

How to Calibrate a Refractometer

Calibrating most refractometers is simple.

Put a drop of distilled(or reverse osmosis water) into your refractometer.
If your refractometer has a screw, turn it until the visible shadow inside the eyepiece falls on the zero marks.

If it doesn’t have a screw, read the manual that comes with your device, as most digital ones have different zeroing methods.

How to Use a Refractometer

Using it is also incredibly simple.

Make sure it’s calibrated.
Make sure that the surface/inside of it isn’t contaminated.
Put a couple of drops of the substance you’re testing inside the refractometer.
Read the output on the screen(if it’s digital), or look inside of it to see where the line falls.

Different Types

There are a couple of different types of refractometers.

There are simple ones with almost no moving parts.

There are the more expensive digital ones, and there are crazy expensive high precision lab ones.

Most people have no need for the high precision ones as the Milwaukee one should be enough.

Conclusion

There are many different types of refractometers out there, but there’s no need to shell out hundreds of dollars for expensive ones without understanding your needs.

The three products reviewed above should be enough for 99% of the people out there, and if you have to ask yourself if you are in that 1% that needs a more expensive “better” product, then you do not need it.

Last Updated: 30th Jan, 2021