Beer Colour Guide: Lovibond, SRM and Grain Colour Explained
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The Lovibond scale and Standard Reference Method (SRM) are used to describe colour in brewing, but they do not describe exactly the same thing. Degrees Lovibond usually describe the colour potential of malt and grain, while SRM describes the colour of finished beer.
Understanding Lovibond, SRM and grain colour can help you compare brewing malts, develop recipes and estimate whether a finished beer will be pale gold, amber, brown or black.
What Is the Lovibond Scale?
The Lovibond scale was developed by Joseph Williams Lovibond during the 1800s as a method of comparing colour. The original method used coloured glass standards and visual comparison.
In modern brewing, you will most often see Lovibond shown as °L in malt and grain specifications. A low Lovibond value indicates a pale malt, while a high Lovibond value indicates a darker caramel, roasted or highly kilned malt.
Examples of approximate malt colour ranges include:
| Degrees Lovibond | General Malt Colour | Common Malt Examples |
|---|---|---|
| 1–2°L | Very pale | Pilsner malt and very pale base malt |
| 2–5°L | Pale gold | Pale ale malt and many standard base malts |
| 5–20°L | Gold to amber | Vienna, Munich, biscuit and lightly kilned specialty malts |
| 20–150°L | Amber to dark brown | Caramel and crystal malts |
| 150–300°L | Dark brown | Dark caramel, brown and some roasted malts |
| 300°L and higher | Very dark brown to black | Chocolate malt, roasted barley and black malt |
These ranges are approximate. Always use the Lovibond specification supplied by the malt producer when building a brewing recipe.
What Is SRM Beer Colour?
SRM stands for Standard Reference Method. It is the measurement commonly used in North America to describe the colour of finished beer.
Lower SRM values represent pale straw and gold beer colours. Higher SRM values represent amber, copper, brown and black beers.
Beer Colour and SRM Chart
| Approximate SRM | Colour | Colour Description | Common Beer-Style Examples |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1–3 | Pale straw to yellow | Light lager, Kölsch and witbier | |
| 4–6 | Gold | Pilsner, blonde ale and wheat beer | |
| 7–9 | Deep gold to light amber | Pale ale and saison | |
| 10–13 | Amber | Märzen and amber ale | |
| 14–17 | Copper | English pale ale and Altbier | |
| 18–24 | Brown | Brown ale and dunkel | |
| 25–29 | Dark brown | Porter and dark lager | |
| 30–39 | Very dark brown | Stout and robust porter | |
| 40+ | Black | Imperial stout and schwarzbier |
Please note: This digital beer colour chart is an approximate visual guide. Screen settings, lighting, glass shape, beer depth, clarity and foam can change how beer colour appears.
Lovibond vs. SRM: What Is the Difference?
Lovibond and SRM are related brewing colour terms, but they should not be used in exactly the same way.
- Degrees Lovibond (°L) usually describe the colour of malt and grain.
- SRM describes the measured or estimated colour of finished beer.
- EBC is another beer colour scale commonly used in Europe.
SRM and Lovibond values can appear numerically similar for pale colours, which is why the terms are sometimes confused. However, a grain listed at 40°L does not automatically produce a beer with a colour of 40 SRM.
Why Grain Lovibond Does Not Equal Finished Beer SRM
The final beer colour depends on the complete grain bill—not only the darkest malt in the recipe.
Finished beer colour is affected by:
- The Lovibond value of each malt
- The weight and percentage of each grain
- The finished batch volume
- Mash and boil conditions
- Boil duration and wort concentration
- Fermentation, yeast and beer clarity
A small amount of high-Lovibond roasted malt can darken a batch without making the finished beer as dark as the malt itself. Likewise, a recipe made mostly with pale base malt can remain gold or amber even when it contains a small portion of dark specialty grain.
What Is EBC Beer Colour?
EBC stands for European Brewery Convention and is commonly used to describe beer colour in Europe. EBC values are approximately twice the corresponding SRM value.
A useful conversion is:
EBC ≈ SRM × 1.97
For example, a beer measuring 10 SRM is approximately 19.7 EBC. This conversion is useful when comparing North American and European malt or beer specifications.
How to Visually Compare Beer Colour
For a more consistent visual beer colour comparison:
- Use a clear glass with a consistent width.
- View the beer against a white background.
- Use natural daylight or neutral white lighting.
- Compare the lightness and darkness rather than trying to match the exact hue.
- Remember that cloudy beer can appear darker than clear beer.
A visual SRM beer colour chart provides an estimate. Laboratory SRM measurements use controlled equipment and cannot be reproduced exactly with a computer screen or printed chart.
Using Lovibond When Choosing Brewing Grain
Lovibond is useful for comparing similar brewing grains and understanding their potential contribution to beer colour. It should be considered alongside flavour, fermentability, recommended usage rate and the rest of the grain bill.
When developing a recipe, use the malt producer’s current Lovibond specification and brewing software or a recipe calculator to estimate the finished SRM.
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