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**Schlenkerla** · 03-04-2007, 04:33 PM

In my brewing I normally do extracts w/ steep grains, so I usually use bottled water. I like to use Wal-Mart Brand Drinking Water. Its carbon filtered & UV treated, micro-filtered and ozonated. Don't ask me what that last one is, I don't know.

SWMBO has been complaining that this same water has been tasting like plastic. I happened to agree with this. She thought that it was a result of freezing in the garage. I don't think so, I might be wrong... To my knowledge I haven't used it in my beer yet.

Have anyone you noticed this in any bottled water before?

I'm going to assume if it was used in beer making you could get off tasting beer too.

Any thoughts on the matter would be appreciated.

What do you normally use for water if you do extracts & extracts w/ steeped grains?

Buy vs Boil

Thanks!

Beer Weevel · 03-04-2007, 04:49 PM

I went to Home Depot and bought a whole house water filter housing and put a carbon activated charcoal filter in it it's rated for 10,000 gallons before replacemant, The whole set up was $48.00. I have since just filtered my tap water and it seems very good to brew with, no taste what so ever. I figured most puchased water is just filtered tap water anyway. Ozination is a process of sanitation by killing all bacteria in the water, my spa has an ozination system so I don't have to add clorinated chemicals.

Tophe · 03-04-2007, 05:20 PM

I use water right out of my tap...I have a nice water softener and am on well water and not city water so I dont have any chlorine or additives in my water. It is very clear and tastes good.

I am going to make some wine next week for the first time, and I was going to buy some store water for that.

Not to thread hyjack, but I also have a question about what kind of water to use when buying from the store.

Do you normally just buy the spring water, or distilled water?

**Schlenkerla** · 03-04-2007, 05:33 PM

I would buy spring water or drinking water. People will by distilled for AG and add gypsum, salts, calcium carbonates or whatever to get the desired end result. I think they do this if they have an element that they can't get out of the water.

I wouldn't bother with distilled unless you know exactly what you need mineral-wise. If you are making wine I would stick to drinking or spring water and add yeast nutrients and/or yeast hulls.

Professor Frink · 03-04-2007, 05:50 PM

I've found spring water has worked best for me. I typically buy 6 1-gallon jugs, do a full boil with 5 gallons, top off any water that evaporated from the 6th jug, and use the remaining for the end of my blow off tube.

feedthebear · 03-04-2007, 06:25 PM

Ozonated means that the water is exposed to an ozone source. Ozone is really effective at killing bacteria.

If the bottled water tastes like plastic, it means either they used really cheap grade plastic for the bottles or the bottles were stored in bright sunlight, or both.

I would bet that WalMart stored them on a pallet somewhere and they got a good dose of bright sunlight which started to break down the plastic. The cheaper the grade of plastic, the easier it is to break down in sunlight.

**Schlenkerla** · 03-04-2007, 06:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by feedthebear

Ozonated means that the water is exposed to an ozone source. Ozone is really effective at killing bacteria.

If the bottled water tastes like plastic, it means either they used really cheap grade plastic for the bottles or the bottles were stored in bright sunlight, or both.

I would bet that WalMart stored them on a pallet somewhere and they got a good dose of bright sunlight which started to break down the plastic. The cheaper the grade of plastic, the easier it is to break down in sunlight.

Thanks!! - I was wondering why they would get that way.

**Biermann** · 03-04-2007, 09:29 PM

I also use an undersink water filter--I use a quick disconnect to easily connect it to my hose.

removes almost all chlorines and chloramines. Of course, I almost always do AG, and if I do an extract beer, I do a full wort boil.

See pic.

**Schlenkerla** · 03-04-2007, 09:49 PM

So most of you who filter water are ok with using it to top off right out of the filter?

Tophe · 03-04-2007, 09:58 PM

Yeah, Ive topped off right out of the faucet many times. Ive been using a filter that attatches to my faucet lately. It all depends on the quality of your water though. I wouldnt do it if I was on city water