Beer Color / SRM / Color Conversion Calculatorv1.0.0

This tool provides two ways to work with beer color. The Beer Color Calculator estimates the final color of your beer based on the grain bill, batch size, and a color prediction formula. The Beer Color Unit Converter lets you convert a known color value between the three most common brewing color scales: SRM, EBC, and Degrees Lovibond.

The grain bill calculator uses Morey's equation by default, which is the most widely accepted formula for predicting beer color from malt color contributions. Two alternative formulas are available in Settings: Daniels and Mosher. Each formula takes the total Malt Color Units (MCU) and applies a different correction to account for the non-linear relationship between grain color and beer color at higher MCU values.

• Select your Unit System (US Gallons/Pounds or Metric Liters/Kilograms).
• Enter your Batch Size in gallons or liters. Fractions such as 5 1/2 and decimals such as 5.5 are both accepted.
• For each grain or fermentable in your recipe, enter the Grain Name (optional), Weight in pounds or kilograms, and Color in Degrees Lovibond. Add more rows with the Add Grain button.
• Click Calculate or allow the auto-calculation to update results as you type.
• View the estimated SRM, EBC, Degrees Lovibond, and HTML hex color code in the results area, along with a visual color swatch.
• Open Settings to switch between Morey, Daniels, or Mosher formulas, or to enable step-by-step formula display showing the MCU and derivation.

To use the Color Unit Converter, enter a value in any one of the three fields (SRM, EBC, or Degrees Lovibond) and the other two fields will update automatically. The converter also displays the approximate HTML hex color code and a color swatch for the entered value.

The conversion formulas are: EBC = SRM x 1.97, and Lovibond = (SRM + 0.76) / 1.3546. 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. MCU (Malt Color Units) equals the sum of each grain's weight in pounds times its color in Lovibond, divided by the batch volume in gallons.

Beer color prediction and conversion serve a range of practical needs across homebrewing, professional brewing, and beer education. Accurate color estimation helps brewers plan recipes, match style guidelines, and communicate about beer appearance using standardized units.

• Homebrewing Recipe Design: Estimate the final color of a recipe before brew day by entering the grain bill. Compare 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) to verify the recipe hits the mark.
• Competition Preparation: Verify that a recipe falls within the BJCP style guideline color range. Adjust grain quantities or substitute specialty malts to fine-tune 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 can be converted to approximately 10.2 SRM for a US-based brewer.
• Ingredient Substitution: Evaluate how swapping one specialty malt for another affects overall color. Remove a grain row, add the substitute with its Lovibond rating, and compare the predicted result.
• Education and Learning: Understand the relationship between grain color contributions and final beer color. Enable the step-by-step formula display to see how MCU values combine 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. Convert between EBC and SRM when communicating with international suppliers or partners.
• Web and Print Design: Use the HTML hex color output to represent a beer's color accurately in digital menus, websites, or marketing materials. The color swatch provides a quick visual reference for the approximate appearance.