The calculator supports Plato and SG for inputs and reports apparent attenuation, calories,
and the OG/FG in both sugar scales.
The calories equation is independent of the ABV equation, and is derived from
["Caloric Content, Beer-33" in: American Society of Brewing Chemists, 1992, Methods of Analysis of the ASBC. American Society of Brewing Chemists; Homebrew Digest 800-9],
complete details here:
http://hbd.org/ensmingr/.
Remember that hydrometer readings need to be temperature corrected.
Try our
Hydrometer Temperature Adjustment Calculator.
For readings taken with a refractometer, please see our
Refractometer Calculator.
Essential Brewing Terms: Specific Gravity, ABV, and More
This section defines key terms related to brewing and alcohol calculations to help you better understand the brewing process and use our calculators effectively.
- Original Gravity (OG)
- The specific gravity of wort before fermentation begins. It measures the density of sugars available for yeast to convert into alcohol. A higher OG indicates a potentially stronger beer.
- Final Gravity (FG)
- The specific gravity of beer after fermentation is complete. It reflects the remaining unfermented sugars and helps determine how much sugar was converted to alcohol. Lower FG generally indicates a drier beer with higher alcohol content.
- Specific Gravity
- A measurement of a liquid's density compared to water. Brewers use it to track the progress of fermentation and calculate alcohol content in beer. Tools like hydrometers and refractometers are used to measure specific gravity.
- Alcohol by Volume (ABV)
- The percentage of alcohol present in a finished beer, indicating its strength and potency. Calculating ABV involves using the original and final gravity readings in a specific formula.
- ABV Formula
- The mathematical equation used to calculate alcohol content based on original gravity and final gravity. A common formula is: (OG - FG) x 131.25. Our ABV calculator simplifies this process for you.
- Hydrometer
- A tool used to measure the specific gravity of liquids, essential for brewers to determine OG and FG for ABV calculations and monitor fermentation progress.
- Refractometer
- An alternative tool for measuring specific gravity, often preferred for small samples and requiring only a drop of liquid for measurement.
- Attenuation
- The percentage of sugars converted into alcohol during fermentation. It is calculated by comparing the original and final gravity and indicates the efficiency of the yeast and the dryness of the final beer.
- Fermentation
- The process where yeast consumes sugars in wort and produces alcohol and carbon dioxide, transforming wort into beer.
NEXT: To calculate your batch's bitterness in the home brewing standard international bittering units (IBUs), see our
IBU calculator.
Legal Disclaimer: The Brewer's Friend ABV calculator is for entertainment purposes and should not be used for professional brewing. No warranty or guarantee of accuracy is provided on the information provided by this calculator.
