are brix and SG
 

directly correlate-able?

is one preferable to the other in certain instances?

--
billb
Someplace between apathy and anarchy is the stance of the thinking
human being

are brix and SG
 

> directly correlate-able?

Yes.

>
> is one preferable to the other in certain instances?

In my opinion and situation, no. Brix is *always* preferable because it's:

1) an industry standard.
2) less digits.
3) simple to get a ballpark figure on Alc. conversion

clyde
Steelville, MO, USofA

are brix and SG
 

Bill,

visit http://members.tripod.com/~BRotter/ and read all about is.
Ed


"billb" > schreef in bericht
news:AGtwc.22423$lL1.16221@fed1read03...
> directly correlate-able?
>
> is one preferable to the other in certain instances?
>
> --
> billb
> Someplace between apathy and anarchy is the stance of the thinking
> human being
>
>

are brix and SG
 

"billb" > wrote in message
news:AGtwc.22423$lL1.16221@fed1read03...
> directly correlate-able?
>

Only under certain specific circumstances. SG is a measure of _total_
solutes in a solution (both fermentable and non-fermentable). Even
suspended solids can have an effect on SG readings. OTOH - BRIX
is only the _fermentable_ portion of that total. Thus, when
non-fermentables
are influencing our SG readings, these readings must be "interpreted" in
order to derive the BRIX information.

> is one preferable to the other in certain instances?
>

It's not a matter of one or the other. SG is used to determine BRIX.
Thereafter, all calculations are based on the BRIX information. HTH

Frederick

> --
> billb
> Someplace between apathy and anarchy is the stance of the thinking
> human being
>
>

are brix and SG
 

billb wrote:

> directly correlate-able?
>
> is one preferable to the other in certain instances?
>

Yes, there are formulae and tables that compare brix to SG. Some people get
down right religious on which ones to use so I don't.

Prior to fermentation, brix will give you a better handle on the sugar
content. After the start of fermentation, SG measurements will tell you
how it is progressing. I don't think of it as an either or case. I use
both.

are brix and SG
 

Brix are a measure of the sugar in a solution. 1 degree Brix is 1% sugar.

If you are using a hydrometer you are measuring total density of the
solution, not the sugar content. The standard units of solution density are
Specific Gravity. If you are examining pure juice, then the dominant
component that effects density in the juice's sugar and a direct
relationship can be expected. (Within error limits)

But once fermentation begins the relationship breaks down. The hydrometer
still measures density, but now density is effected by the alcohol in the
wine. You can still use the Brix scale on the hydrometer but just realize
that it no longer has a direct relationship to % sugar. The Brix scale on
the hydrometer means one thing in a beginning juice and another in a
fermenting or finished wine.

Ray

"billb" > wrote in message
news:AGtwc.22423$lL1.16221@fed1read03...
> directly correlate-able?
>
> is one preferable to the other in certain instances?
>
> --
> billb
> Someplace between apathy and anarchy is the stance of the thinking
> human being
>
>

are brix and SG
 

>
> But once fermentation begins the relationship breaks down. The
hydrometer
> still measures density, but now density is effected by the alcohol
in the
> wine. You can still use the Brix scale on the hydrometer but just
realize
> that it no longer has a direct relationship to % sugar. The Brix
scale on
> the hydrometer means one thing in a beginning juice and another in
a
> fermenting or finished wine.
>

so with a brix refractometer you always know the sugar %age
regardless of the water or alcohol content.

Is that correct?

And with a hydrometer, assuming that alcohol has a lower SG than
water, once alcohol enters the picture the hydrometer reading will
be a little less.

or, to put it another way, 2 pounds of sugar in a gallon of water
will have a higher SG reading than 2 pounds of sugar in a gallon of
alcohol.

Is that correct?

--
billb
Someplace between apathy and anarchy is the stance of the thinking
human being

are brix and SG
 

"billb" > wrote in message
news:0d6xc.38370$lL1.18376@fed1read03...
(clip)
>
> so with a brix refractometer you always know the sugar %age
> regardless of the water or alcohol content.
>
> Is that correct?
>

No, a refractometer is affected by alcohol. It only works directly on
juice. I think someone gave an equation to correct for alcohol but I don't
have it. Anyway, it has the same problem as the Brix reading from a
hydrometer.

> And with a hydrometer, assuming that alcohol has a lower SG than
> water, once alcohol enters the picture the hydrometer reading will
> be a little less.
>
> or, to put it another way, 2 pounds of sugar in a gallon of water
> will have a higher SG reading than 2 pounds of sugar in a gallon of
> alcohol.
>
> Is that correct?

That is correct. SG for water is 1.000, SG for alcohol is 0.791. 12%
alcohol will cause quite an error.

You can apathetically accept the errors or you can try to correct out the
anarchy! ;o)

Ray

>
> --
> billb
> Someplace between apathy and anarchy is the stance of the thinking
> human being
>
>

are brix and SG
 

>
> You can apathetically accept the errors or you can try to correct
out the
> anarchy! ;o)
>

I better ask Archie.

--
billb
Someplace between apathy and anarchy is the stance of the thinking
human being
"Ray" > wrote in message
...
>
> "billb" > wrote in message
> news:0d6xc.38370$lL1.18376@fed1read03...
> (clip)
> >
> > so with a brix refractometer you always know the sugar %age
> > regardless of the water or alcohol content.
> >
> > Is that correct?
> >
>
> No, a refractometer is affected by alcohol. It only works directly
on
> juice. I think someone gave an equation to correct for alcohol but
I don't
> have it. Anyway, it has the same problem as the Brix reading from
a
> hydrometer.
>
> > And with a hydrometer, assuming that alcohol has a lower SG than
> > water, once alcohol enters the picture the hydrometer reading
will
> > be a little less.
> >
> > or, to put it another way, 2 pounds of sugar in a gallon of water
> > will have a higher SG reading than 2 pounds of sugar in a gallon
of
> > alcohol.
> >
> > Is that correct?
>
> That is correct. SG for water is 1.000, SG for alcohol is 0.791.
12%
> alcohol will cause quite an error.
> Ray
>
> >
> > --
> > billb
> > Someplace between apathy and anarchy is the stance of the
thinking
> > human being
> >
> >
>
>