Alcoholic Strength

alcoholic strength. (ael'-kuh-ha'-lik strehngkth')

    In the United States and Germany the alcoholic strength of beers is measured, in percent alcohol by weight, whereas Canada and the United Kingdom refer to volumetric content. In the United Kingdom the specific gravity (or density) method is used. This measurement system attributes the number 1.000 to water, and the density of beers is measured in comparison to that standard. An approximate formula for converting beer densities to alcohol by weight consists of dividing the last two figures of the density by 13. (Example: specific gravity 1.052 equals 52 / 13 equals 4 percent alcohol by weight.) Other systems sych as degrees Plato (°P), derived from the Balling system, measure the concentration of solids in unfermented worts. An approximate formula for converting degrees Plato to percent alcohol by weight is obtained by dividing the former by 3. (Example: 12 °P / 3 equals 4 percent alcohol by weight.) See also: Belgian degrees; Régie.