About This Course

All sections cover the instrument, the readings taken, and the impact/adjustments on your beer. This course contains over 110 minutes of actionable video.

2nd Act Beer Founder Stu Blake has spent more than 7 years brewing at home and commercially. In this course, he spends almost two hours diving into all the readings he takes throughout the beer making process, why you should care, and the impact it will have on your beer. Instruments covered include:

  • Hydrometers
  • Refractometers
  • pH Meters
  • Water chemistry
  • Grain + hops scales
  • Thermometers (kettle, fermentor, + remote)
  • Oxygen impacts
  • Measuring + infusing carbon dioxide
  • Stir plates
  • And other helpful tools (measuring spoons, syringe, sharpie, knife, spray bottle, and more)

Course curriculum

  • 01

    Welcome

    Show Content
  • 02

    Specific Gravity

    Show Content
    • Hydrometer

    • Refractometer

    • 3 Things to Check Before You Buy a Refractometer

    • How to Choose the Right Hydrometer

    • How Efficient is Your Beer?

  • 03

    pH

    Show Content
    • pH Meter

    • Water and Mash pH

    • pH Troubleshooting

  • 04

    Water Chemistry

    Show Content
    • Intro to Water Chemistry

    • Brewing Water Introduction

    • Ions

    • Hardness and Alkalinity

    • A Word to the Wise

    • Water Report

    • What You Can Do

  • 05

    Scales

    Show Content
    • Scales Overview

  • 06

    Temperature

    Show Content
    • Thermometers

    • Three Steps to Consistency

    • Other Courses Covering Temperature

  • 07

    Gas

    Show Content
    • Oxygen + Carbon Dioxide

    • How to Inject Pure Oxygen into Wort

    • Keg Carbonation for Every Type

  • 08

    Other Equipment

    Show Content
    • Other Useful Equipment

    • 4 ways to Aerate and Agitate your Yeast Starter

    • 8 Items You Didn’t Know You Needed

  • 09

    Thank You

    Show Content
    • Thank You

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