This review is from: Brew Tapper Triple Scale Hydrometer – Perfect for Beer and Wine – A Must-have for Home Brewing and Winemaking
This is now my go to hydrometer. Full disclosure, I received this one free of charge from Brew Tapper. I do, however, own one of Brew Tapper’s earlier models of Triple Scale Hydrometer that I purchased myself. You can find my review of that unit on amazon. Like the older model, this hydrometer is dead on accurate. I’ve calibrated both with distilled water; cross referenced with readings from my refractometer, and made certain I was doing each step at the appropriate temperature rather than using conversion charts. I feel confident that my tests were as accurate as I could make them.
I have a batch of hard cider that just finished in primary, so the timing to test was perfect. The hydrometer’s color coding made reading simple. I took readings from the hydrometer in a wine thief. The result was an SG of 1.001. This is perfect as I’ve let my cider run dry through primary stopping just shy of total fermentation which would have read more like .999 or 1.000. It’s exactly the reading I was expecting. I don’t have a comparison from my refractometer for this test as the alcohol present would render that reading inaccurate.
The next test I ran was in distilled water. This is how you can calibrate a hydrometer. Distilled water should read 1.000 at the specified temperature. Both my hydrometers read 1.000, so I’m completely satisfied with that result. If the reading had been 1.001, say, then I would just subtract .001 from any future readings taken with that instrument. A reading of 1.001 or .999 would be totally acceptable in my book. This is known as a single point calibration and is adequate for most home brewing needs. You can look into 2-point calibration methods if you are interested, but I don’t find that worth it.
To take a reading, you simply pull a sample into a sanitized testing vessel like a wine thief or a graduated cylinder, gently float the hydrometer in the liquid and spin the vessel or hydrometer to make sure it isn’t being supported by bubbles or stuck on the side. Then, read the scale at eye-level where the bottom of the meniscus intersects with the hydrometer. The meniscus is the curved shape of the surface of the liquid where it intersects the hydrometer. You can take a reading as Specific Gravity, Plato/Brix, or potential alcohol. I use the SG readings mostly. The testing sample must be at 60°F or you need to use a conversion chart readily available online at Brew Tapper’s website. My tests were both done with samples brought to 60°F to avoid the need for the chart.
This updated version on the hydrometer is packaged in a much nicer tube that should last through many uses. The older storage tube wasn’t worth trying to use as a testing vessel due to durability. This new version’s storage case is much stronger, but it’s too short to test in. The case is two pieces that slide together and when separated, neither side is tall enough for testing in. No worries, I use a wine thief now, which I would keep using even if this storage case were tall enough to test in. The main things I concern myself with in a hydrometer is the accuracy of the reading and the ease of obtaining the reading. In those departments, this hydrometer is perfect so far. The case, remember, is intended for storage and protection and on those fronts it performs its duty well (and better than the older model).
The hydrometer came shipped in a strong box with packing peanuts surrounding it and there was no issue with damage on receipt. The first unit I bought arrived very promptly. It was the same with this newer unit. Brew Tapper sent a personal email to me while my first unit was in transit to which I responded and struck up a conversation with their employee while awaiting the hydrometer. He stayed in contact with me throughout learning how to use the first unit and then through the process of receiving this unit for testing. All in all, I feel very confident with Brew Tapper’s customer service, personal touch, and product quality. That is my candid opinion and even had I paid for the second hydrometer, I would review it the same. If I ever broke one of these I would replace it with another without hesitation.
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This review is from: Brew Tapper Triple Scale Hydrometer – Perfect for Beer and Wine – A Must-have for Home Brewing and Winemaking
A simple, easy to read hydrometer. Any homebrewers must have. I bought this because my old hydrometer shattered when dropped in its case. This came with a case that is not transparent so you must have your own wine/beer trapper. But the case it comes in is sturdy and reliable to protect the glass.
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This review is from: Brew Tapper Triple Scale Hydrometer – Perfect for Beer and Wine – A Must-have for Home Brewing and Winemaking
I use this along side my refractometer for every batch and the readings are spot on. It’s very easy to read the colored scale, and it comes in a really nice case. If I ever break it, I know where I’ll be getting another one.
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A Top Quality Must Have for any Home Brewer or Wine Maker,
Like the older model, this hydrometer is dead on accurate. I’ve calibrated both with distilled water; cross referenced with readings from my refractometer, and made certain I was doing each step at the appropriate temperature rather than using conversion charts. I feel confident that my tests were as accurate as I could make them.
I have a batch of hard cider that just finished in primary, so the timing to test was perfect. The hydrometer’s color coding made reading simple. I took readings from the hydrometer in a wine thief. The result was an SG of 1.001. This is perfect as I’ve let my cider run dry through primary stopping just shy of total fermentation which would have read more like .999 or 1.000. It’s exactly the reading I was expecting. I don’t have a comparison from my refractometer for this test as the alcohol present would render that reading inaccurate.
The next test I ran was in distilled water. This is how you can calibrate a hydrometer. Distilled water should read 1.000 at the specified temperature. Both my hydrometers read 1.000, so I’m completely satisfied with that result. If the reading had been 1.001, say, then I would just subtract .001 from any future readings taken with that instrument. A reading of 1.001 or .999 would be totally acceptable in my book. This is known as a single point calibration and is adequate for most home brewing needs. You can look into 2-point calibration methods if you are interested, but I don’t find that worth it.
To take a reading, you simply pull a sample into a sanitized testing vessel like a wine thief or a graduated cylinder, gently float the hydrometer in the liquid and spin the vessel or hydrometer to make sure it isn’t being supported by bubbles or stuck on the side. Then, read the scale at eye-level where the bottom of the meniscus intersects with the hydrometer. The meniscus is the curved shape of the surface of the liquid where it intersects the hydrometer. You can take a reading as Specific Gravity, Plato/Brix, or potential alcohol. I use the SG readings mostly. The testing sample must be at 60°F or you need to use a conversion chart readily available online at Brew Tapper’s website. My tests were both done with samples brought to 60°F to avoid the need for the chart.
This updated version on the hydrometer is packaged in a much nicer tube that should last through many uses. The older storage tube wasn’t worth trying to use as a testing vessel due to durability. This new version’s storage case is much stronger, but it’s too short to test in. The case is two pieces that slide together and when separated, neither side is tall enough for testing in. No worries, I use a wine thief now, which I would keep using even if this storage case were tall enough to test in. The main things I concern myself with in a hydrometer is the accuracy of the reading and the ease of obtaining the reading. In those departments, this hydrometer is perfect so far. The case, remember, is intended for storage and protection and on those fronts it performs its duty well (and better than the older model).
The hydrometer came shipped in a strong box with packing peanuts surrounding it and there was no issue with damage on receipt. The first unit I bought arrived very promptly. It was the same with this newer unit. Brew Tapper sent a personal email to me while my first unit was in transit to which I responded and struck up a conversation with their employee while awaiting the hydrometer. He stayed in contact with me throughout learning how to use the first unit and then through the process of receiving this unit for testing. All in all, I feel very confident with Brew Tapper’s customer service, personal touch, and product quality. That is my candid opinion and even had I paid for the second hydrometer, I would review it the same. If I ever broke one of these I would replace it with another without hesitation.
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|easy to read hydrometer,
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|Great hydrometer, great price!,
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