Beer Colour Calculator (SRM/EBC)
Predict your beer colour from the grain bill. Add your grains and see a live colour swatch update in real time.
Beer Colour by Style
Not sure what colour to expect? Here are typical SRM ranges by style.
| Style | SRM | EBC |
|---|---|---|
| Pilsner / Light Lager | 2 - 4 | 4 - 8 |
| Wheat Beer | 3 - 6 | 6 - 12 |
| Pale Ale | 5 - 10 | 10 - 20 |
| IPA | 6 - 14 | 12 - 28 |
| Amber Ale / Red Ale | 10 - 17 | 20 - 33 |
| Brown Ale | 15 - 22 | 30 - 43 |
| Porter | 20 - 35 | 39 - 69 |
| Stout | 30 - 40+ | 59 - 79+ |
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How Beer Colour Calculation Works
Beer colour comes from the grains in your recipe. Each grain has a colour rating measured in degrees Lovibond. Pale malts are very light (1-3L), crystal malts are amber to dark (20-120L), and roasted malts are nearly black (300-500L).
The calculation works in two steps:
Step 1: Malt Colour Units (MCU)
For each grain, multiply its weight by its Lovibond rating, convert to the standard unit, and divide by batch volume. Then sum all grains.
MCU = sum of (weight_kg x Lovibond x 8.3454) / volume_litresThe 8.3454 constant converts from metric (kg/L) to the original MCU formula units (lb/gallon).
Step 2: Morey Equation
MCU does not scale linearly — doubling the dark grain does not double the perceived colour. The Morey equation corrects for this with a power function:
SRM = 1.4922 x MCU ^ 0.6859To convert to EBC (European Brewery Convention), simply multiply:
EBC = SRM x 1.97This calculator is most accurate for SRM values under 40. Beyond that, all beers appear essentially black and the visual difference is negligible.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is SRM in beer?
SRM stands for Standard Reference Method. It is a scale used to measure beer colour. A light pilsner might be 2-4 SRM, a pale ale 5-10 SRM, an amber ale 10-17 SRM, and a stout 30+ SRM. The higher the number, the darker the beer.
What is the difference between SRM and EBC?
SRM and EBC are both colour measurement scales. SRM is used in North America, EBC (European Brewery Convention) is used in Europe. The conversion is simple: EBC = SRM x 1.97. So an SRM of 10 equals roughly 20 EBC. Our calculator shows both.
What is Lovibond in brewing?
Lovibond (L) measures the colour of individual malts and grains. Pale malts are around 1.5-3L, crystal malts 20-120L, and roasted malts 300-500L. The Lovibond values of all your grains combined determine the final colour of the beer.
How do I predict my beer colour before brewing?
Enter each grain in your recipe with its weight and Lovibond colour rating, plus your batch volume. The calculator uses the Morey equation (MCU method) to estimate the SRM and EBC of your finished beer. The colour swatch gives you a visual preview.
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