Wort correction factor
Term from the Brauwerkstatt brewing glossary, category “Measurements and calculations”.
Explanation
Wort bends light slightly differently from a pure sugar solution. So you divide the °Brix reading by a factor, usually 1.04, to get the gravity in °P. Once fermentation has started, alcohol skews the reading further; the final beer calculator then converts it.
Work it out yourself
Final beer calculator – Work out the alcohol content, attenuation, colour and bitterness of your beer – before brewing as a plan, and afterwards with your measured values.
Test your knowledge
What does the refractometer’s wort correction factor, usually 1.04, mean?
- It shows how much alcohol is in the beer
- You divide the °Brix reading by it to get the gravity in °P
- You multiply the temperature by it
Show answer
Correct: You divide the °Brix reading by it to get the gravity in °P. Wort bends light slightly differently from pure sugar solution. °Brix ÷ 1.04 gives roughly the gravity in °P.
All terms in “Measurements and calculations” · Brewing glossary