I'm a new AG brewer in SW Florida and would like some advice on brewing water. I'm on a well with hard water (smells bad if untreated) that gets run through a water softener and removes the minerals but leaves high salt levels (which I read in the water primer thread is bad for brewing). I also have a RO system under the kitchen sink which I'm guessing removes most of the salt and is what I used for brewing my 1st & 2nd all-grain brews (APA & IPA) along with calcium chloride and gypsum additions per water primer thread and calcs in EZ Water 3.0. Both brews went smooth and according to recipe but came out with some astringency in the aftertaste. I didn't have Colorphast pH strips to check the pH (which I just ordered) or lactic acid to bring the pH down more if needed either.
I'd like to brew the best tasting beer that I can so here are my questions for anyone that would be kind enough to give advice:
1. Should I continue to use my RO water for brewing and work on making sure my pH levels are in the 5.4 - 5.5 range or should I start using bottled water which from what I've read is municipal water that also needs treating? Switch to distilled water?
2. If continuing to use my RO, should I send a sample to Ward Labs to make sure that my RO system is working properly and all minerals including high salt levels from the water softener are being stripped out?
3. Should I give up brewing since my water sucks and just stock up on SN Torpedo when it goes on sale?
Thanks for any advice you can provide!
I'd like to brew the best tasting beer that I can so here are my questions for anyone that would be kind enough to give advice:
1. Should I continue to use my RO water for brewing and work on making sure my pH levels are in the 5.4 - 5.5 range or should I start using bottled water which from what I've read is municipal water that also needs treating? Switch to distilled water?
2. If continuing to use my RO, should I send a sample to Ward Labs to make sure that my RO system is working properly and all minerals including high salt levels from the water softener are being stripped out?
3. Should I give up brewing since my water sucks and just stock up on SN Torpedo when it goes on sale?
Thanks for any advice you can provide!