Degrees Lovibond

Degrees Lovibond (°L) is a measurement scale used to quantify the color of a substance, primarily in the brewing and malting industries. The scale was developed by Joseph Williams Lovibond in the 19th century and is still widely used today to measure the color of beer, malt, and other related products.

History

The Lovibond scale was created by Joseph Williams Lovibond, a British brewer and the founder of the Tintometer Ltd. He developed the scale to provide a standardized method for measuring the color of beer and malt, which was previously done subjectively. The Lovibond scale uses a series of colored glass slides to compare the color of a sample against a known standard.

Measurement

Degrees Lovibond are determined by visually comparing the color of a sample to a series of colored glass standards. The color of the sample is matched to the closest standard, and the corresponding Lovibond value is assigned. This method is still used today, although more modern techniques such as spectrophotometry have also been adopted.

Applications

The Lovibond scale is primarily used in the brewing and malting industries. It helps brewers and maltsters ensure consistency in the color of their products. The color of malt, for example, can affect the final color of the beer, and thus it is crucial to have a standardized measurement.

Comparison with Other Scales

The Lovibond scale is one of several color measurement scales used in the brewing industry. Other scales include the Standard Reference Method (SRM) and the European Brewery Convention (EBC) scale. While the Lovibond scale is based on visual comparison, the SRM and EBC scales use spectrophotometric methods to measure color.

Related Pages

• Joseph Williams Lovibond
• Beer
• Malt
• Spectrophotometry
• Standard Reference Method
• European Brewery Convention