Determine alcohol content from gravity readings.
The simple formula ABV = (OG - FG) × 131.25 works well for beers under 6% ABV. For stronger brews, the advanced formula accounts for the non-linear relationship between gravity and alcohol density. Alcohol by Weight (ABW) is roughly 79.34% of ABV since alcohol is lighter than water. Degrees Plato measures sugar concentration — 1°P means 1 gram of sugar per 100 grams of solution. Most craft beers range from 4-8% ABV, wines 11-15%, and meads 8-18%. Yeast strain selection is crucial: ale yeasts typically tolerate up to 10-12% ABV, while champagne yeasts can reach 18%+.