Best Thermometer For Brewing, The Definitive Guide 2024

If you don’t want to spend a couple of hundred dollars on a brew pot with a built-in thermo, then this review’s Editors Choice is your best bet.

The price is decent. The probe diameter is approximately 1/8 inches, and the diameter of the dial is 2 inches. You can also easily attach this to the side of your pot. 

It has a nice long stem, so there’s a lot of surface area for measurements.

However, 

For some, these types of thermometers are never that great but still get the job done in a pinch, though.

We tried this on a mash tun – it worked perfectly and seemed pretty close on measured temperature. We’ve even compared reading from it to a lab thermometer, and it’s within a degree or 2.

A pretty accurate and reliable backup thermo.

There’s a calibration nut where the stem attaches to the dial on the back that you can adjust to calibrate.

Not only that,

The metal clip makes this thing worth its weight in gold. So, I highly recommend this if you don’t want to bother holding a thermo while stirring liquids and such.

Though the only downside in the accuracy department, otherwise greatly responsive to temperature variations and is a great tool for the job.

Just make sure that your pot is tall enough to accept the full length of the probe – it works great also on a 10-gallon stockpot.

It would’ve been great if the bottom end of the range was more like 100°F to give better resolution in the mash to boiling wort measurement range, but for the price, it works great.

If you’re looking for a thermo that won’t stretch your budget, then this review’s Best Value will work well for you.

It’s perfect for monitoring temperatures without the sanitation concerns of fully submerged thermometers.

This adhesive strip thermometer is perfect for keeping track of your fermentation temperatures and a good thing to have if you’re preparing lagers during the winter months.

With a beer thermo like this, you’ll be able to quickly and easily take a reading.

But, 

You need to be careful with this one not to get wet. Even if it’s water-resistant, this isn’t waterproof. 

Thus, it can be easily rinsed or washed if continuously exposed to traditional cleaning and sanitizing solutions that would later damage the laminate layers and discoloration of crystals.

On the other hand,

It’s easy to use by simply peeling off the paper on the back and attaching it to the outside of your fermenter.

Reading the temp is straightforward.  If one crystal is highlighted in green, it’s the actual temperature.  If two adjoining crystals are highlighted, blue and tan, it’s the temp in between.

Also, using a flashing light on it makes it easier to read.

All you have to do is check and log the temperature. The convenience of this has saved a lot of people when the temperature on their brewery starts to drop.

However,

The Ferrometer isn’t the most accurate and won’t measure your boils, but it’s not bad and a great thermo for starters.

This thermometer from Concord is accurate to within +/- 1° and features a large 3” dial with clear numbers that are easy to read.

One negative to point out is that it doesn’t include the necessary nuts, so you’ll have to buy them separately. It also doesn’t come with instructions, so for things like calibrating it, you’ll have to work it out.

However, these are minor cons.

Generally speaking,

This is a solid and reliable thermometer that sells at a very affordable price point – and if those are characteristics you value, this is a valuable addition to your list of possibilities.

And, when calibrating, be sure to immerse in liquid up to the threads, otherwise, you’d think it’s inaccurate.

This is good for your buck 12” thermometer designed for home brewing uses, and it features a basic design that makes it incredibly easy to use.

Another plus is that it provides a good temperature range, marked in Fahrenheit and Celsius.

However,

You shouldn’t expect anything of exceptional quality for something as affordable as this – rather, this is a simple budget item that does its job and no more.

Also,

It isn’t perfectly accurate, so if you need a higher degree of accuracy than that, this thermo might not be for you.

Overall, if you need a basic, inexpensive thermometer for checking the temperature of your brew, this could be just right.

This review’s Top Pick features 1.4 inches, easy to read, digital display, the splash-proof and beautifully designed thermo offers ultra-fast readings in 3-4 seconds and has an astounding accuracy better than ±0.9°F.

One neat feature is that it shuts off when you fold the tip in to save battery.

Also,

It has a magnet on the back that allows you to easily store or place it on the side of the fridge for quick access whenever it’s needed.

It’s heat resistant and NSF approved for commercial and professional use. Not only can you use Lavatools PT12 Javelin thermo for your brewery but also to determine meat temperatures.

However,

It should be fine for quickly checking the temperature of mash and sparge water. As for boiling, You have to get real close to using it, and you’ll need a steady hand since it doesn’t have a metal clip that you can attach to your pot, unlike Editors Choice and Top Pick.

Still, this is a no-brainer for a versatile digital thermometer to have around.

If you’re tired of dipping a thermo into the brew, I strongly recommend Bayou for you.

It saves you time from taking readings by staying fixed on the side of your pot.

Because this unit is installed to the side of your stockpot,

It provides a constant and consistent reading compared to adhesive thermometers. This one also has a probe that stems into your mash.

The convenience and accuracy of this product are worth your buck as it saves you time and gets accurate results.

Cleaning isn’t difficult. If you feel it necessary to remove the thermometer, you’d just remove the backing nut and o-ring.

If you are looking for a one-stone-stop shop, it is your best choice.

Just slap it to the side, and it’s good to go. The mountable feature makes it easier to monitor your mash and you won’t have to deal with sanitation risks.

Not only that,

You can also remove it to use it to take temperatures of your yeast or your fermentation.

If you’re looking for a budget thermo that you can use for other purposes other than beer making – this could be the ideal pick.

The pack includes a pair of thermometers with a long 12” stem with a wide temperature range of 0-220°F and -16-110°C. There’s also a hex nut for calibration, making it a simple and fine-tuning thermo.

On the downside,

You need to wait a few moments for an accurate reading. Also, they are a little flimsy, so you’ll have to treat them carefully if you want them to last a long time.

Overall, this is a great pick if you’re interested in something at a lower price point. This pack represents great value for money, especially having two thermometers at your purchase.

Like this review’s Editors Choice and Top Pick, this too has a nice long probe, making it easier to use in large stockpots.

It may not be mountable like the Best Value but it’s waterproof! – who wouldn’t love this?

Tests show that they are protected against being immersed in over three feet of water for up to 30 minutes.

Even if you accidentally submerged it on your mash tun, it would still function perfectly.
It doesn’t work well with brewing but also grilling – the long probe length protects the hand from the heat.

However,

It would be even better if this thermo had a temperature alarm function, five-year, especially when used for candy making, to avoid standing right beside the pot to wait. Other digital thermometers would have that function but aren’t waterproof and at a great price!

This is a versatile thermometer, and it can be attached to your brew pot, ball valve, or wort chiller that gives wide temperatures measuring from 0° to 220°F (or -10° to 100°C).

Some cons would be that the O-rings that come with it seem slightly flimsy. Thus, there’s a need to do a little DIY to install it without leakage problems.

Also,

It doesn’t come with instructions, so you need to do a little research to mount this unit properly.

However, it does everything you’d expect of it and comes at a great price. Also, the company’s support was accommodating when needed to replace or refund the unit.