Help from Brewing Gurus required

[awalker]

I work at a small British based company (soon to be Chinese based if we dont get some good new products!), which make analytical and other test equipment for many varied markets.

Anyway I have been asked to look at some new products to go in our line up.
We currently make spectrophotometers which larger brewers use to measure EBC/SRM and other brewing related measurements.

But I would like to make a low cost product aimed at the micro brew and serious homebrewer level. This unit would do the same kinds of measurements as its big brother but be a lot cheaper and easier to use!

So this is where you come in what tests should it be able to do in an ideal all in one product.

Currently looking at measuring

EBC/SRM * Not as important for the homebrewer I know
Alpha Acid in Hops
IBU
SG

Please add to the list

We are currently doing our best to stop another small British company going to Asia, your help is appreciated.
Sorry if its a bit of a ramble, not sure if its in the right place or not!

Adam

[DannyW]

Currently looking at measuring

EBC/SRM * Not as important for the homebrewer I know
Alpha Acid in Hops
IBU

Please add to the list

Just having AA% and IBU would be a great boon. As long as we are in wish-list mode though...

Continuous readout of specific gravity via a probe into the fermenter

pH without the finicky maintenance and life-limited probes

DMS/SMM detector

A little puck or dish shaped scale I could put under each corny keg to give me a readout of how much remains in each keg.

[awalker]

Currently looking at measuring

EBC/SRM * Not as important for the homebrewer I know
Alpha Acid in Hops
IBU

Please add to the list

Just having AA% and IBU would be a great boon. As long as we are in wish-list mode though...

Continuous readout of specific gravity via a probe into the fermenter

pH without the finicky maintenance and life-limited probes

DMS/SMM detector

A little puck or dish shaped scale I could put under each corny keg to give me a readout of how much remains in each keg.

That is a real wish list mode, keep them coming!!

pH is a pain I dont think you can get away from the probe problems

[Bugeater]

It would be nice to be able to stick a probe into your fermenter and have the gadget it's plugged into give you an instant digital readout of your specific gravity. This would make a great bulkhead mounted gadget for a conical fermenter. You could hook that to your computer and get a continuous readout on the changes in SG. All sorts of ways you could use that data, charting over time with corresponding changes in temperature, etc.

Wayne
Bugeater Brewing Company

[DannyW]

I'd like that SG monitor tied into a programmable thermostat. That would let me set my initial ferm temp at 62, then allow it to rise to 68 after 75% of the expected attenuation has been reached, then wait 2 days after attenuation stops changing, then drop to 50F to drop the yeast.

[bub]

hey that SG thing would be great on the Brewdroid, I will suggest it..
WTH is it anyway?
www.brewdroid.com
BUB

[awalker]

It would be nice to be able to stick a probe into your fermenter and have the gadget it's plugged into give you an instant digital readout of your specific gravity. This would make a great bulkhead mounted gadget for a conical fermenter. You could hook that to your computer and get a continuous readout on the changes in SG. All sorts of ways you could use that data, charting over time with corresponding changes in temperature, etc.

Wayne
Bugeater Brewing Company

Good idea bug.
Not sure how to do it, but will stuff it on the list anyway!
Are there any electronic means of measuring SG ?

[Thirsty Boy]

how about (not in order of preference)

Dissolved Oxygen
% Alcohol
Carbonation Level
Tint
IBUs
SG