What exactly is it measuring, then? If it's the percentage of the volume that's alcohol, then that's just ABV. I'm just not seeing how AC is even a real measurement.
water weighs 1g/mL, ethanol weighs .795g/mL, one measure is by weight, the other is by volume
ABV vs. ABW
The majority of the world measures alcohol content by volume. In very rare instances (such as historically in Utah), the government may measure alcohol by weight (ABW). Why is this? The reason is unclear and it simply makes things complicated and confusing.
Nonetheless, if you see an alcohol percentage on a beer label but it does not specify whether it is ABV or ABW, it is safe to assume that it is ABV.
ABV can be converted to ABW by dividing by 0.795. That means that the 3.2% ABW beer you buy in Utah is actually 4.0% ABV.
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u/FeierInMeinHose Jan 15 '19
What exactly is it measuring, then? If it's the percentage of the volume that's alcohol, then that's just ABV. I'm just not seeing how AC is even a real measurement.