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A refractometer works on the principle that a sugar solution has a different index of refraction than water, thus the concentration of a sugar solution can be determined with the instrument. Due to the relatively similar indices of various sugars, it will measure all sugars, as well as other non-fermentables. Because ethanol has a very different refractive ...

The refractometer measures the sugar concentration of a particular liquid. It will register both complex and simple sugars. Once fermentation begins the presence of alcohol distorts the refraction thus requiring you to use a conversion chart or calculator to determine the remaining sugar. To do this you will need to know the original gravity. The measured ...

Your method for determining OG isn't technically wrong, but I'm not sure how much error exists in the formulas in the spreadsheets. I just tested your method, plugging in post fermentation gravity, and then adjusting OG (OB) until the final gravity reading matched what I measured with the hydrometer. For the specific recipe I used, it was one point away in ...