Help with "Buffer 5.2" chemical

[NE-Brewer]

I'm about to do my first AG.

I'm trying to figure out what "buffer 5.2" chemical is. I've seen it in the beer catalogs and seen a reference or two in posts but am not sure how and when to use it.

It appears to buffer the mash so it stays at a pH of 5.2 which I understand would be a good thing.

Is this something that I should use "all the time" like adding irish moss as an insurance policy? Or, should I use it only if I need to adjust the pH?

Thanks for any help....

 

[illin8]

It depends on the makeup of your local water. If you can get a mash pH of 5.2-5.4 it is most likely not required. If you can't then it would be beneficial. I don't have pH strips so I use it anyway, I haven't heard of it hurting anything. Knowing what my water chemistry is on my long list of things brewing related, but for now I'll just use 5.2 just in case.

 

[Bobby_M]

Or you can brew a few batches without it and see how it goes. I don't know the statistics but it's probably more likely that your malts + local water has enough buffering capacity without anything added.

 

[conpewter]

I often use it even though I've done water chemistry analysis, it doesn't hurt anything. I think the issue might be that no one has a water that will work with all malt make ups. There is a reason Pilsen can't make good stout and why Dublin has crappy pale ales (without water adjustments).

 

[LaurieGator]

I use RO water (we have high arsenic in our well water) and use the 5.2 buffer as a "just in case" thing. It hasn't hurt anything so far and the beer is tasting mighty fine...




.

 

[GilaMinumBeer]

I use it for every beer as an insurance. Just like I always treat my sparge water with lactic acid and, lately, I always use rice hulls in the mash and a kettle fining.

 

[annasdadhockey]

I too used it in my mash. I also put it in my sparge water, just in case it changed the pH while sparging.

 

[HenryHill]

Perhaps more important is the chlorine in city water-does this include you?

 

[the_bird]

I did notice an improvement in my efficiency when I used it. Even last week's batch, I forgot the buffer and my efficiency came in 5-10 points less than I had been getting using it. Really seems to help. You only need (in my experience) about half the recommended dosage.