This refers to a digital tool designed to estimate the alcohol content of homemade beer, wine, cider, or other fermented beverages. These instruments commonly require input such as original gravity (OG), final gravity (FG), and sometimes volume to derive an approximate alcohol by volume (ABV) percentage. For example, a brewer measuring an OG of 1.050 and an FG of 1.010 in a batch of beer would use it to predict an ABV in the vicinity of 5.24%.
The value of such a device lies in its ability to provide an accessible and relatively accurate method for determining the strength of a homemade alcoholic beverage. Historically, brewers relied on more cumbersome or less precise methods. It allows for better control over the final product, assists in recipe development and replication, and provides valuable information for labeling purposes where regulations require ABV disclosure. This enables both amateur and professional brewers to achieve consistent results.
