Russian Imperial Stout Water Help

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xerotime

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I just recently moved and have all new water to contend with. In addition this will be my first attempt of a stout so I'm looking into how to adjust my water. Any input would be helpful as I'm just starting to get into water chemistry. Here's what I came up with for a 3 gallon batch...

Starting Water (ppm):
Ca: 39
Mg: 6
Na: 71
Cl: 138
SO4: 9
CaCO3: 54

Mash / Sparge Vol (gal): 3.5 / 2
Dilution Rate: 0%

Adjustments (grams) Mash / Boil Kettle:
CaCO3: 3.5 / 0
CaSO4: 2.5 / 1.4
CaCl2: 0 / 0
MgSO4: 0 / 0
NaHCO3: 3 / 0
NaCl: 0 / 0
HCL Acid: 0 / 0
Lactic Acid: 0 / 0

Mash Water / Total water (ppm):
Ca: 188 / 149
Mg: 6 / 6
Na: 133 / 110
Cl: 138 / 138
SO4: 114 / 114
CaCO3: 319 / 222

RA (mash only): 181 (20 to 25 SRM)
Cl to SO4 (total water): 1.21 (Balanced)
 
that's the adjustment I went with and the beer took 2 first place awards. I have no idea if it was the water that helped it do that or not. Are you also in Shrewsbury?
 
that's the adjustment I went with and the beer took 2 first place awards. I have no idea if it was the water that helped it do that or not. Are you also in Shrewsbury?

If you must know, I used to live in Shrewsbury and Worcester. I'm one town over now.



Although Shrewbury isn't on the MWRA. I think it's on it's own system; either that or with Worcester.

Your water is roughly what is listed on the MWRA report. A little harder, but not terribly so.

If you notice on the report the giant leap in alkalinity. Basically, I think the treatment guys dump barrels of baking soda into the reservoir, otherwise we could brew up some righteous pils.

I've done some at home chemistry work to verify the hardness and alkalinity. And, what I came up corresponded to the water listed in the report.



For the general report page... clicky this.
http://www.mwra.state.ma.us/monthly/wqupdate/qual3wq.htm

For the month of October... clicky this.
http://www.mwra.state.ma.us/monthly/wqupdate/pdf/2010data/1020102.pdf


For water calculations I find this page to be easiest.
http://www.ezwatercalculator.com/
 
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