Craft A Brew 9" Glass Floating Thermometer Homebrew Beer Review (2026)
Updated September 14, 2026 · Research-based review
Our verdict
Craft A Brew's 9 inch glass floating thermometer gives a simple, battery-free way to check steeping and pitching temperatures, floating upright in a bucket or kettle. It settles slowly and the glass can crack if dropped. Our score of 7.6 out of 10 puts it mid-pack among brewing thermometers.
Craft A Brew 9" glass floating thermometer for homebrew beer, a simple tool for checking steeping and pitching temperatures.
Price range: $ (Budget)
What we liked
- + Floats in the kettle or bucket so the reading is always visible
- + 9" length reaches into wort far enough for an accurate reading
- + No batteries needed, just drop it in and read
Trade-offs
- - Glass can break if dropped onto a hard floor
- - Slower to settle on a reading than a digital probe
Who this floating thermometer suits
This thermometer is aimed at homebrewers who need a quick, no-fuss way to check temperature while steeping grains, cooling wort or pitching yeast, rather than someone monitoring a mash tun continuously through a long session. Because it floats freely instead of clipping to a kettle wall, it works well in a bucket, carboy neck or open fermenter where a clip-on dial thermometer has nothing to grab onto. Beginners running 1 gallon extract kits will find the size and price point make sense as a first thermometer, since there is no battery to buy and nothing to calibrate. Brewers who need a probe that reaches deep into a full-size kettle or who want a continuous digital readout during a boil will likely find a dial gauge or a wireless option a better match for that specific job.
What the glass tube and scale actually offer
The thermometer is a clear glass tube filled with an alcohol-based liquid rather than mercury, a common design for this style of homebrew thermometer, with a printed scale marked in 2 degree increments reading up to roughly 220 degrees Fahrenheit. It is built to float upright in liquid rather than sink or tip on its side, and the Amazon listing puts the package weight at about 0.15 pounds, in line with a lightweight glass instrument rather than a weighted probe. The thermometer ships as a single unit with no batteries, sensors or electronics involved, which keeps it simple but also means there is no backlight or audible alert for hitting a target temperature. Some buyers on the product listing note it can drift toward the side of a kettle instead of staying centered, which is worth watching for during use.
Using it on brew day and keeping it in one piece
Drop the thermometer into your wort, must or steeping liquid and let it float freely, then give it a moment to settle before reading the scale, since glass spirit thermometers respond more slowly to temperature changes than a digital probe does. Because the body is glass, avoid setting it down hard on a counter or letting it bang against the side of a metal kettle, and store it somewhere it will not roll off a shelf between brew days. Rinse it after each use like any other equipment that touches wort or must, and skip the dishwasher in favor of a quick hand wash. Some owners on the product listing have reported it cracking or breaking with regular handling, so treat it more like glassware than a rugged kitchen tool.
Trade-offs against dial and wireless rivals
In the site's brewing thermometers guide, this model sits fourth of seven at 7.6, behind the Home Brew Ohio 15477 and HomeBrewStuff 12 inch stainless dial thermometers, which tie at 8.4 with clip-on mounts and probes long enough to reach the center of a full kettle, and behind the Tilt wireless hydrometer and thermometer at 8.1, which adds Bluetooth gravity tracking at a higher price and with more setup. This floating glass model outranks the similarly sized 8.25 inch floating thermometer at 7.0 and the Home Brew Ohio venting dial thermometer at 6.8, both of which share its no-frills approach. Against dial thermometers, the appeal here is simplicity and a familiar spirit-thermometer design, while the trade-off is fragility and a probe that cannot clip hands-free to a kettle rim.
Verdict and who should pick something else
Choose this thermometer if you want an inexpensive, battery-free way to spot-check temperature while steeping, cooling or pitching in a bucket or carboy, and you do not mind handling glass with some care. It earns a solid middle-of-the-pack score because it does one simple job reliably without adding cost or complexity. If you brew larger batches in a deep kettle or mash tun and want a probe that clips in place and reaches the center of the liquid, the Home Brew Ohio or HomeBrewStuff 12 inch dial thermometers are the better fit. Brewers who want continuous tracking through days of fermentation without checking manually should look at the Tilt wireless hydrometer instead of any floating glass thermometer.
Frequently asked questions
Can this thermometer be used to check boil temperatures?
It is intended for steeping, cooling and pitching checks rather than sustained use in a rolling boil, so a clip-on dial thermometer is a better fit for monitoring the boil itself.
How long does it take to get an accurate reading?
Glass spirit thermometers like this one settle more slowly than a digital probe, so give it a minute or so floating in the liquid before reading the scale.
Does it need batteries or calibration?
No, it is a simple alcohol-filled glass tube with a printed scale, so there is nothing to charge, pair or calibrate before use.
What happens if the glass cracks or breaks?
Discard the batch it was floating in if the glass breaks, since the internal fill is not intended for contact with food or drink, and handle the thermometer carefully to avoid drops onto hard surfaces.
Prices change often, so check the current price and availability on Amazon.
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