HANNA Instruments HI-98167 [HI98167] Professional Portable Beer pH Meter

The HI98167 is a rugged, waterproof, portable pH meter that measures pH and temperature during the brewing process. This meter is supplied with a specialized titanium body pH electrode with a built in temperature sensor that is ideal for measuring the pH of mash, cooled wort and of the finished product.  

The measurement of pH during the beer making process is important due to the effect it has on enzymatic activity in the mash, yeast activity in fermentation and the incorporation of flavoring components. Monitoring and controlling the pH allows for a consistent flavor profile and ensure a stable product. The brewer is faced with a number of challenges when measuring pH. The mash has a high content of semi-solids and sugars are formed from the conversion of starch by enzymatic activity. Both can pose problems including coating the glass and clogging the junction. The mash and cooled wort after boiling are typically above room temperature, which leads to the degradation of the sensitive glass. To overcome these challenges the HI 98167 beer pH meter is supplied with a uniquely design titanium body pH electrode.

The FC2143 pH electrode is a flat tip pH sensor made with specialized glass to provide a long life when measuring temperatures up to 80 oC.  A built in temperature sensor compensates for temperature variations and the probe has a cloth renewable junction that can be extracted to expose a fresh clean surface when readings become sluggish due to clogging.

The probe has a built in amplifier and the titanium body that acts as a matching pin to reduce noise as a result from the effect that humidity has on probe connection to the meter. The FC2143 connects to the HI98167 with a quick-connect, waterproof DIN connector, allowing for a secure, non-threaded attachment.

Besides being supplied with a unique pH electrode made for brewing, the HI98167 has the Hanna's unique CAL Check™ feature that alerts the user to potential problems during the calibration process. This is a very important for the brewer since it is likely that the probe will be coated with the solids, starch and sugars. This coating can easily lead to errors in pH measurement.  By comparing previous calibration data to the current calibration, the meter will inform the user, with display prompts, when the probe needs to be cleaned, replaced, or if the pH buffer might be contaminated.  After calibration, the overall probe condition is displayed on screen as a percentage. The probe condition is affected by both the offset and slope characteristics of the pH electrode, both of which can be found in the GLP data including with the readings stored in the meter or transferred to a PC.