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How much do people work on their water? I’m starting to think about this more. On my last brew I actually checked my mash PH and added Burton salts until it seemed to be around 5.2. I couldn’t really tell for sure because the PH test strips only provide a guestimate. Ended up being an ounce in 10 Gal. Am I just paying lip service by doing that?

The attached spreadsheet is very complicated. Does anyone really go through the process of entering all the figures in the spreadsheet? And then adding the exact amount of the different salts?

I might have all the figures from the town water, if I can unravel them from the report, but I am running my brewing water through a carbon filter, and I think the filter might change the chemical profile of the water, but I don’t know if it does and to what degree.

How anal is everyone about this?

I've been using that spreadsheet... it's great, because it actually takes into account your recipe, not just the color of the beer you're aiming for (like the John Palmer one, that addresses residual alkalinity, I think).

I add salts based on what style of beer I'm brewing, and then for pale beers like APAs and IPAs, I've taken to adding some Acid malt to get the mash pH in a better range (it can be pretty high with Fredericton water, up to 5.7 or so).

Thanks,

I found something on carbon filters.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carbon_filtering

Carbon filters are most effective at removing chlorine, sediment, volatile organic compounds (VOCs), taste and odor from water. They are not effective at removing minerals, salts, and dissolved inorganic compounds.

I've used that spreadsheet and found it to be the easiest to understand, however, I'm still not sure if the additions helped my beer or not

Where did you get your water report from? Is it possible to have your water tested.

Thanks

I just used the one from the city water supply. You can get it tested at various locations that do water tests for new house purchases (AFAIK). We dropped our water sample off to the hospital in Halifax and they do the test. You need to select the appropriate test so you get results relevant to brewing.

Thanks!

Jimmy wrote:I've used that spreadsheet and found it to be the easiest to understand, however, I'm still not sure if the additions helped my beer or not

Ha, yeah, I get you. I've only been doing the Acid malt additions (regularly, anyway) for the last couple of batches of APA and IPA... haven't got them out of primary yet, so not sure if it'll help or not, either!

Mark, did you read through this thread before?

viewtopic.php?f=3&t=2284" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Jimmy, no but I will read it. Thanks

I've just spent an hour on it and managed to figure out the town water report I got before and put it into that spread sheet. It really is quite simple. I wonder if my water chemistry might be the reason why I never liked crystal or caramel malt. Always disliked any beer I made with them. I maybe tailored my beer to my water profile as time went on and I experimented with this and that ...it's possible.

I'm chuffed to have sorted out the spread sheet any way. All I needed was a bit of encouragement. Thanks.

Redoubt PMd me and said they got their water tested at the place where my wife works. Who would have known

ps. Reading that thread now. It's great!

Videos on how to use EZ water calculator

He's using an older version, but good videos.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=pl ... 1n7-RjEJEM" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=pl ... KT6EE7ong0" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=pl ... n0GwU7TqNE" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

BeerSmith interview on mash PH https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7ucJO_s7WiE" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

(I can't seem to embed youtubes these days, what am I doing wrong? this doesn't work [youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7ucJO_s7WiE[/youtube])

GuingesRock wrote:BeerSmith interview on mash PH https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7ucJO_s7WiE" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

(I can't seem to embed youtubes these days, what am I doing wrong? this doesn't work [youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7ucJO_s7WiE[/youtube])

Try getting rid of the 's' in 'https' - you are logged in to your YouTube account when copying the link.

GuingesRock wrote:BeerSmith interview on mash PH https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7ucJO_s7WiE" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

(I can't seem to embed youtubes these days, what am I doing wrong? this doesn't work [youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7ucJO_s7WiE[/youtube])

Try removing the 's' from the 'https' url.

Thanks