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Which stage in the mash is pH most important (15/30/45/60 min?)

Discussion in 'Brew Science' started by ParanoidAndroid, Aug 18, 2015.

 

  1. #1
    ParanoidAndroid

    Well-Known Member

    Posted Aug 18, 2015
    The reason I am asking is that I am wanting to hold off on adding some chocolate and crystal 60 until I mash out. I'm doing a 2.25 gallon BIAB Nut Brown with 100% distilled water. The recipe is a scaled Lil Sparky Nut Brown:

    3.3 lbs Marris Otter
    0.4 lbs Oats
    0.2 lbs Victory
    0.125 lbs Chocolate
    0.4 C60
    Fuggles and EKG

    I would mash the MO, Oats, and Victory. If I do that, and add the following salts, then I would get a mash pH of almost 5.6.

    1.0 gram Gypsum
    1.0 gram CaCl2

    I would then need to add 1.25 mL of Lactic Acid to get it down to about 5.4.

    However I have read where mash pH trends down as time goes on. Also, by adding the c60 and Chocolate later, that would drive the pH down even further. I'm worried that by the time I get to the end of the mash, my pH will be too low going into the boil. Which btw, how does kettle pH come into play here? Does pH keep going lower during the boil?

    In the end, at what time point should that pH be at 5.4?

    Any recommendations on additions?
     
  2. #2
    Brewskey

    Well-Known Member

    Posted Aug 18, 2015
    Slightly Off Topic here, but how is the tap water in Birmingham? I live in South AL (Daphne) an our water is very soft. Just curious as to why you're using distilled water.
     
  3. #3
    ParanoidAndroid

    Well-Known Member

    Posted Aug 18, 2015
    My water comes from a different source than the rest of bHam. Were on the west side, or Mcalla area. Here is the water report. High Alkalinity is the reason I went to RO/Distilled. That, and just the ease of building your own water from scratch and taking the guess work out of it.

    pH 8.5

    Total Dissolved Solids (TDS) Est, ppm 266
    Electrical Conductivity, mmho/cm 0.44
    Cations / Anions, me/L 5.1 / 5.6

    ppm
    Sodium, Na 38
    Potassium, K 3
    Calcium, Ca 61
    Magnesium, Mg 4
    Total Hardness, CaCO3 169
    Nitrate, NO3-N < 0.1 (SAFE)
    Sulfate, SO4-S 9
    Chloride, Cl 18
    Carbonate, CO3 16
    Bicarbonate, HCO3 244
    Total Alkalinity, CaCO3 226
    Total Phosphorus, P 0.16
    Total Iron, Fe < 0.01
     
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