The Ultimate Beer-Making Conversion Cheat Sheet
The Ultimate Beer-Making Conversion Cheat Sheet
Brewing beer isn’t just a craft—it’s a science, an art, and an excuse to collect way too much brewing gear. Whether you’re fine-tuning gravity, adjusting water chemistry, or figuring out how much priming sugar to use, precision is what separates an okay beer from a world-class pint. This guide lays out essential beer-making conversions, formulas, and an interactive calculator to keep your brewing on point—because every great beer starts with great numbers.
Basic Volume Conversions
| Measurement | Teaspoons (tsp) | Tablespoons (tbsp) | Fluid Ounces (fl oz) | Milliliters (mL) | Cups | Pints | Quarts | Gallons |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 tsp | 1 | 1/3 | 1/6 | 4.93 | - | - | - | - |
| 1 tbsp | 3 | 1 | 1/2 | 14.79 | - | - | - | - |
| 1 fl oz | 6 | 2 | 1 | 29.57 | 1/8 | - | - | - |
| 1 cup | 48 | 16 | 8 | 237 | 1 | 1/2 | 1/4 | 1/16 |
| 1 pint | 96 | 32 | 16 | 473 | 2 | 1 | 1/2 | 1/8 |
| 1 quart | 192 | 64 | 32 | 946 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1/4 |
| 1 gallon | 768 | 256 | 128 | 3,785 | 16 | 8 | 4 | 1 |
Beer-Specific Conversions & Formulas
| Conversion | Formula / Approximate Value |
|---|---|
| Plato to Specific Gravity (SG) | SG = (°P / (258.6 - (°P / 258.2) × 227.1)) + 1 |
| Brix to SG Conversion | SG = (Brix / (258.6 - (Brix / 258.2) × 227.1)) + 1 |
| Apparent Attenuation (AA%) | AA% = ((OG - FG) / (OG - 1)) × 100 |
| Real Attenuation (RA%) | RA% = ((0.82 × (OG - FG)) / (OG - 1)) × 100 |
| Alcohol By Volume (ABV) | ABV = (OG - FG) × 131.25 |
| Alcohol By Weight (ABW) | ABW = ABV × 0.79 |
| Mash Temperature Conversion | °F = (°C × 1.8) + 32 |
| Pre-boil Mash Efficiency | (Pre-boil Gravity - 1) / (Potential Gravity - 1) × 100 |
| 1 mL 88% Lactic Acid in 1 Gallon | ~0.1 pH drop |
| 1 g Calcium Sulfate (Gypsum) | Raises Calcium by ~60 ppm |
| 1 g Calcium Chloride | Raises Calcium by ~72 ppm |
| Priming Sugar (Corn Sugar) | 5 oz per 5 gallons = ~2.5 vol CO₂ |
| Priming Sugar (Table Sugar) | 4.9 oz per 5 gallons = ~2.5 vol CO₂ |
| Priming Sugar (DME) | 7 oz per 5 gallons = ~2.5 vol CO₂ |
Interactive Beer-Making Conversion Calculator
Use this interactive tool to quickly convert between different volume measurements and bottling sizes.
Why Precision Matters in Beer-Making
Great beer doesn’t happen by accident—it’s built on a foundation of measured precision, recipe consistency, and a healthy respect for the brewing process. Use this guide to keep your numbers in check and your beers tasting their best.
Have questions? Drop them in the comments below, and let’s talk brewing science!