Beer Color Converter: SRM, EBC, and Lovibond
Beer Color Converter
Approximate appearance. Actual color varies with glass size, lighting, and haze.
EBC = 1.97 × SRM (current EBC method). SRM = 1.3546 × °L − 0.76 (ASBC). Converts measured beer color only; malt Lovibond ratings from a spec sheet need a recipe model to estimate beer color.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between SRM and EBC?
Both are calculated from absorbance at 430 nm in a 10 mm cell. SRM (ASBC) multiplies absorbance by 12.7; EBC multiplies by 25. That makes EBC about 1.97 times SRM. SRM is standard in the US; EBC is standard in Europe.
How does Lovibond relate to SRM?
Lovibond is the older visual scale, based on comparing beer against tinted glass standards. SRM was designed to approximate it, and the two are close in the typical beer range. The ASBC relationship is SRM = 1.3546 × °L − 0.76.
Can I use this to convert malt Lovibond ratings into beer SRM?
No. Malt color on a spec sheet describes a laboratory wort made from that malt, not your finished beer. Estimating beer color from a grain bill requires a recipe model such as the Morey equation, which accounts for malt weight and batch volume.
Why do older EBC values not match this conversion?
The EBC method changed in the early 1990s. Values reported before the change followed a different scale, roughly EBC = 2.65 × °L − 1.2. This converter uses the current method.
How accurate is the color preview?
It is a rough guide. Perceived beer color depends on glass diameter, lighting, haze, and your screen. For a reportable value, measure absorbance at 430 nm on a spectrophotometer.