Beer Color / SRM / Color Conversion Calculator

Beer color, expressed as SRM, EBC, or Degrees Lovibond, can be predicted from a grain bill and batch size, or converted directly when the color is already known from a lab result or a recipe written in a different scale. A grain bill prediction and a straight unit conversion answer two different questions: what color will this recipe produce, and what does that measured color mean in another scale.

Predicting color from a grain bill uses Morey's equation by default, the most widely accepted formula for converting malt color contributions into a beer color estimate. Two alternative formulas, Daniels and Mosher, are available as well. Each formula takes the total Malt Color Units (MCU) contributed by the grain bill and applies a different correction for the non-linear relationship between grain color and beer color at higher MCU values. MCU equals the sum of each grain's weight in pounds times its color in Degrees Lovibond, divided by the batch volume in gallons.

Morey's formula is SRM = 1.4922 x MCU^0.6859. Daniels' formula is SRM = 0.2 x MCU + 8.4. Mosher's formula is SRM = 0.3 x MCU + 4.7. Once an SRM value exists, EBC = SRM x 1.97 and Degrees Lovibond = (SRM + 0.76) / 1.3546. Entering a value in any one of SRM, EBC, or Degrees Lovibond converts it into the other two, along with an approximate HTML hex color code and a visual swatch, without needing a grain bill at all. The three color prediction formulas diverge most at the high end of the scale: Morey's power-function curve levels off for very dark beers, while Daniels and Mosher stay linear, which is why cross-checking a stout or porter recipe across all three methods can produce noticeably different SRM figures even from the same grain bill.

An SRM reading of 10 converts to EBC = 10 x 1.97 = 19.7, and to Degrees Lovibond = (10 + 0.76) / 1.3546 = 10.76 / 1.3546, about 7.94.

Beer color prediction and conversion serve homebrewing, professional brewing, and beer education alike. Estimating color helps plan recipes, match style guidelines, and communicate about beer appearance using standardized units.

• Homebrewing Recipe Design: Estimate the final color of a recipe from its grain bill before brew day. Comparing the predicted SRM against the target range for a style, such as American Pale Ale (5 to 10 SRM) or Irish Stout (25 to 40 SRM), confirms the recipe hits the mark.
• Competition Preparation: Verify that a recipe falls within the BJCP style guideline color range. Adjusting grain quantities or substituting specialty malts fine-tunes the color before committing ingredients.
• International Recipe Sharing: Convert color values between SRM and EBC when adapting recipes from sources that use different regional standards. A European recipe listing 20 EBC converts to approximately 10.2 SRM for a US-based brewer.
• Ingredient Substitution: Evaluate how swapping one specialty malt for another affects overall color by comparing the predicted result against the original grain bill.
• Education and Learning: The relationship between grain color contributions and final beer color becomes visible in the MCU value and how Morey's equation corrects for non-linearity at higher color levels.
• Professional Brewing Quality Control: Cross-check lab-measured SRM values against predicted values from the grain bill. Converting between EBC and SRM supports communication with international suppliers or partners.
• Web and Print Design: The HTML hex color output represents a beer's color accurately in digital menus, websites, or marketing materials, and the color swatch gives a quick visual reference for the approximate appearance.