When it comes to homebrewing, the color of your malted grains plays a crucial role in determining the final appearance and flavor of your beer. Two common scales used to measure and describe these colors are the European Brewing Convention (EBC) and Lovibond. In this blog post, we'll dive into what these scales mean, how they differ, and how you can convert between them.
What is EBC?
The European Brewing Convention (EBC) scale is widely used in Europe to measure the color of beer and malt. It was developed to provide a standardized method for brewers to describe the color of their products. The EBC value is determined by measuring the absorbance of a beer sample at a wavelength of 430 nm in a 1 cm cuvette.
What is Lovibond?
The Lovibond scale, named after its creator Joseph Williams Lovibond, is an older method of measuring the color of beer and malt. It involves visually comparing the color of a sample against a set of colored glass discs with known values. Although it has largely been replaced by more precise methods like EBC and SRM (Standard Reference Method), Lovibond is still commonly used to describe the color of malted grains.
Converting Between EBC and Lovibond
Understanding how to convert between EBC and Lovibond is essential for homebrewers who may encounter both scales in recipes and ingredient descriptions. The conversion between these two scales is not linear, but a commonly used approximation is:
EBC ≈ 1.97 × SRM
And for converting Lovibond to SRM:
SRM≈1.35Lovibond+0.6
Combining these two formulas, you can convert Lovibond directly to EBC:
EBC≈1.97×(1.35Lovibond+0.6)
Practical Application
When you're selecting malt for your next brew, understanding these conversions can help you achieve the desired color and flavor profile. For example, if a recipe calls for a malt with an EBC of 20, but you only have the Lovibond value, you can use the conversion formula to find the equivalent Lovibond value.
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