The Stevenson Reeves S1011 is the best homebrew hydrometer for most UK brewers who already have a trial jar. It reads specific gravity (SG) directly before and after fermentation. If you are starting without a sample jar, the Brewer’s Elite kit puts the essentials together. Add the HHTEC refractometer when you want quick, small-sample checks during a brew day—not as a direct replacement for a hydrometer at final gravity.
A hydrometer can measure original gravity (OG) and final gravity (FG) from a cooled sample. A refractometer is convenient before fermentation, but alcohol changes its reading once fermentation begins. Its printed SG scale does not remove that limitation.
Our top 3 picks
Stevenson Reeves S1011 triple-scale hydrometer
Best overall gravity tool
A direct SG reading before and after fermentation; add a suitable trial jar.
Brewer’s Elite hydrometer and trial-jar kit
Best first kit
A triple-scale glass hydrometer with a sample jar and protective case.
HHTEC beer refractometer
Best for brew-day checks
A few drops of wort give a quick Brix or SG-scale reading before fermentation.
In this guide
- Comparison at a glance
- Hydrometer or refractometer: which should you buy?
- The three best homebrew gravity tools
- How to take a useful gravity reading
- Reading Brix after fermentation
- How we chose
- The bottom line
- Frequently Asked Questions
Comparison at a glance
| Tool | Best for | Sample | Main compromise |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stevenson Reeves S1011 | One direct SG tool for OG and FG | Trial-jar sample | Jar is a separate purchase |
| Brewer’s Elite kit | A first hydrometer setup | Included plastic jar | Glass float still needs careful handling |
| HHTEC beer refractometer | Fast pre-fermentation checks | A few drops | Fermented beer needs alcohol correction |
All three are measuring tools, not fermentation guarantees. Sanitation, sample temperature and repeat readings matter as much as the instrument. The gravity-reading guide covers the wider fermentation workflow.
Hydrometer or refractometer: which should you buy?
Start with a hydrometer if you own neither
A brewing hydrometer floats in a cylinder of wort or beer and reads SG directly. One float can handle OG before yeast is pitched and FG later. You need a clean sample jar deep enough for the particular float, and you should check the calibration temperature printed on the instrument. The glass is fragile, so lower it gently and store it in a protective case. If you are building your first setup, our homebrewing starter-kit guide helps identify what you already have.
Add a refractometer for the brew day
A refractometer uses only a few drops, so it is useful for tracking runoff or wort concentration without filling a trial jar each time. It typically reads Brix; some models also print an SG scale. Because wort is not a simple sucrose solution, compare its readings with your hydrometer if precision matters. Once alcohol is present, use an appropriate calculator with the original reading or take an FG hydrometer sample. MoreBeer explains refractometer readings and their limits in more detail.
ATC compensates for the instrument within its stated temperature range; it does not mean you can put boiling wort directly on the prism and read immediately. Cool a small sample and allow it to reach the instrument’s operating range.
The three best homebrew gravity tools
Best overall: Stevenson Reeves S1011 triple-scale hydrometer
The S1011 is a simple triple-scale glass float. Its SG scale is the useful one for checking a recipe’s start and finish. Its main strength is that it does not need an alcohol-correction calculator for a final-gravity reading. Keep the potential-alcohol marking in perspective: it estimates from sugar in the sample and is not a direct measurement of the finished beer’s ABV.
- Buy it if: you have a suitable trial jar and want one instrument for OG and FG.
- Skip it if: you want a ready-to-use jar included or often take hot, tiny brew-day samples.
Best first kit: Brewer’s Elite hydrometer and jar
This variant combines a triple-scale hydrometer with a plastic sample jar and a protective case. That makes it easier to start measuring without separately guessing which cylinder will fit the float. Check the jar’s usable depth and sample volume when it arrives; the hydrometer must float freely without touching the bottom or sides. The case protects storage, not a dropped glass instrument.
- Buy it if: your current equipment has no test jar.
- Skip it if: you already own a suitable cylinder; another float alone may be the more useful purchase.
Best refractometer: HHTEC beer refractometer
The HHTEC is intended for brewing wort and has a 0–32% Brix scale alongside a printed SG scale. It also provides automatic temperature compensation within its operating conditions. Calibrate the zero with clean water as its instructions direct, clean the prism between samples and cool hot wort before applying it. The dual scale is convenient for pre-fermentation checks but does not produce an uncorrected FG once alcohol is present.
- Buy it if: you want rapid small-sample readings while mashing or boiling.
- Skip it if: you only need a reliable final-gravity check; start with a hydrometer.
How to take a useful gravity reading
Clean and sanitise the sample tool and jar. Take a sample without returning used beer to the fermenter. For a hydrometer, cool it near the instrument’s stated calibration temperature, lower the float gently, clear any bubbles and read at eye level using the manufacturer’s meniscus instructions. Degas an actively fermenting or carbonated sample so bubbles do not lift the float. Record the reading and temperature rather than relying on memory. MoreBeer’s hydrometer guide explains calibration and reading errors.
A repeated, stable gravity helps assess whether fermentation has finished, but timing and yeast behaviour depend on the recipe. Do not package because a calendar date has arrived or because one reading seems close to the target. Use readings taken at an appropriate interval alongside the recipe’s guidance. If bottling, the bottling and carbonation guide covers the next step.
Reading Brix after fermentation
Before fermentation, a refractometer can give a useful quick estimate from unfermented wort. After yeast has produced alcohol, the raw Brix value and any directly printed SG value no longer represent the beer’s true gravity. Record your original reading and use a brewing refractometer calculator that accounts for alcohol and, when appropriate, a wort correction factor. A hydrometer sample is the simpler way to confirm FG. MoreBeer’s brewing measurement guide details why the correction is necessary.
Do not use a spirit alcoholmeter in place of a brewing hydrometer. Its scale is made for distilled spirits, not sugar-bearing wort or beer. For an approximate ABV from hydrometer readings, use your recipe software or an OG/FG calculator; the float’s “potential alcohol” scale is not a finished-beer test. Keep a dated log in the brew-record system you will actually use.
How we chose
We compared exact UK variants by scale, included sample equipment, the task each tool solves and customer rating. The shortlist favours a direct SG option, a first-kit option and a small-sample brewing option. Customer ratings do not establish measurement accuracy. Cross-check each instrument’s calibration and instructions before use. The separate cleaning and sanitising guide covers the equipment around safe sampling.
The bottom line
Buy a hydrometer first if you need both OG and FG; choose the Stevenson Reeves if you have a jar, or the Brewer’s Elite kit if you do not. Add the HHTEC refractometer when tiny pre-fermentation samples will genuinely improve your brew day. Keep the hydrometer for direct FG readings. The best tool is the one that answers the measurement you actually need, with a clean sample and the right temperature—not the one with the longest list of printed scales.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need both a hydrometer and a refractometer? No. A brewing hydrometer can read OG and FG. A refractometer makes pre-fermentation checks faster with a smaller sample, but it adds a correction step after alcohol forms.
Can a refractometer measure final gravity? Yes, with an appropriate alcohol-correction calculator and an original reading. Its raw Brix or printed SG scale is not a direct final-gravity result after fermentation.
Does ATC mean I can measure boiling wort? No. Automatic temperature compensation works within an instrument’s specified operating range. Cool a small hot sample and follow the maker’s instructions before reading the prism.
What does a hydrometer trial jar do? It holds a sample deep and wide enough for the float to move freely. Check that the jar suits your exact hydrometer; do not let the glass touch the bottom or sides.
Is potential alcohol the same as finished ABV? No. A potential-alcohol scale estimates what a sugary sample could produce under assumptions. Finished ABV is usually estimated from recorded original and final gravity readings.
How do I know fermentation is finished? Use appropriately spaced gravity readings, alongside the recipe and yeast guidance, to check whether gravity has stabilised. One reading or an elapsed number of days is not enough on its own.