Gypsum ?

**Gabe** · 10-29-2006, 08:33 PM

I have never used gypsum b4 and wanted to do a pale ale , my water is a little soft and I wanted to harden it up a bit. How much do I add and when do I add it? 5 Gal brew , full boil. Water I belive is nuetral. Thanks in advance.

boo boo · 10-29-2006, 09:14 PM

You should never "just" add chemicals to your brew without knowing the effects it will have on your brew. In order to know how much you need to add you need to know how much it is lacking.

For a start, are you doing an extract brew? If so then no additions are nesessary as all the corrections have been done at the mashing level when making your wort. You may add a little to give a sharper "bite" to your hops, but don't overdo it.

If you are doing all grain, then you need a water profile to see what can be added to modify your water to the style you are making.

homebrewer_99 · 10-29-2006, 10:39 PM

You should be able to get an anaylsis of your towns water.

I get mine from the water co. with my bill every year. It will lay out the concentration/lack of (levels) of chemicals and minerals in your tap water as well as if there's anything in there to be afraid of...

Orpheus · 10-30-2006, 12:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gabe

I have never used gypsum b4 and wanted to do a pale ale , my water is a little soft and I wanted to harden it up a bit. How much do I add and when do I add it? 5 Gal brew , full boil. Water I belive is nuetral. Thanks in advance.

The pale ale I make and love calls for two teaspoons of gypsum in the recipe. Has worked fabulously for me!

**ajf** · 10-30-2006, 02:29 AM

Gypsum lowers the pH, and adds calcium and sulphates.
The pH and calcium have a noticeable affect during the mash, but can be ignored if you are doing an extract brew where the mash has been done for you.
Sulphates affect the flavors extracted from the hops, and apply to AG and extract brews.
http://www.howtobrew.com/section3/chapter15-4.html gives good information on the effects of various chemicals in brewing water.
If you just need the sulphates, Epsom Salts are much cheaper than Gypsum as you can get them in the local supermarket or drug store.
If you are trying to replicate Button on Trent water, you can't add excess Gypsum as the water will become saturated.

-a.