Wine alcohol tester

[Leblais]

This is kinda odd to me because being mainly a beer brewer, I had never hear of one of these. Do you guys use them? How do they work?
The picture I saw of one on ebay looked like a small, thin glass tube with a cup on the top of it. How does this work on wine and why dont people use it for beer if its soo easy???
Thanxx

[P cuthbert]

This device is known as a vinometer.

It is reasonably accurate when used with a full dry wine. It works through capillary action. You fill the cup with wine, and allow it to run through the tube. When it starts to drip out the bottom, you invert the device and take the reading where the wine is in the tube.

If it is used with a sweet wine, the viscosity of the wine is notably higher. This results in an incorrect reading in the capillary tube.

I don't think it would work for beer, because beer is full of material that makes the viscosity incorrect for this type of tool.

If you should ever buy one, (I don't recommend it) you will find that it is very hard to clean out properly. Any residue inside the tube will cause an incorrect reading.

Pat

Pat

[Mamgiowl]

I have read elsewhere on this forum that these things are a waste of time and money. I think the best alcohol tester is to drink the wine. If you fall down after a couple of glasses - it's a high alcohol wine!

[lockwood1956]

Best bet is to use your hydrometer to track specific gravities and measure alcohol content that way.........much easier and I'm pretty sure more accurate

regards
Bob

[DAVID]

Well i disagree Bob, I much prefer Mamgi's way of thinking shame i cant enjoy a drink or two during the festivites...grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr

[Leblais]

Yeah the whole try it and stand method sounds pretty fun, though I am already acustomed to using the hydrometer so I spose Ill continue doing that... Thanx for the input, as it sounded too good to be true anyway!

[lockwood1956]

shame i cant enjoy a drink or two during the festivites...grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr

how about we get together as soon as you are allowed and do something about that?

[Duffbeer]

Well my expertise is small I must admit, but I will add to this thread,VINOMETERS are a waste of money unless your wine is dry and stabalised, airbubbles cause havoc and are near impossible to clear, sweetened wines read falsly and they're a real bummer to clean, and again read falsly if not 100% dry(the vonometer inside that is). Not expensive but I could have spent the money on a new pair of underpants. .Stick to the hydrometer and sg - fg readings their are many charts on the net and CJJ Berry's books that will translate them to an accurate % alc..

[Hippie]

I agree. I also need new whiteytighties.

[lockwood1956]

Stick to the hydrometer and sg - fg readings their are many charts on the net and CJJ Berry's books that will translate them to an accurate % alc..

You will also find a chart for %alc here

http://www.lockwoodrecording.net/Alchoholbyvolumechart.xls

regards
Bob