Work out colour (srm/ebc) estimate instantly with clear inputs, formula shown and shareable results.
Malt colour units are pounds of grain times Lovibond colour divided by gallons of wort. Because colour perception is non-linear, the Morey equation converts MCU to SRM as 1.4922 x MCU^0.6859. EBC is approximately 1.97 times SRM.
Malt colour units
MCU = grain (lb) x colour (Lovibond) / volume (gallons)
Morey equation
SRM = 1.4922 x MCU^0.6859; EBC = SRM x 1.97
Light absorption saturates, so adding dark malt to an already dark beer changes perceived colour far less than adding it to a pale one. Linear MCU badly overestimates dark beer colour.
Yes. Maillard reactions during a long or vigorous boil darken wort noticeably, and the Morey equation does not account for it. Measured colour usually exceeds the estimate.