Big Monk
Trappist Please! 🍷
- Joined
- Dec 24, 2015
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You've talked me into 6%. Completely "free form" entry can lead to huge errors if the end user does not fully understand.
Right, but ultimately the goal IS to help people understand what they might otherwise not fully comprehend. That's kind of what we are doing by constantly posting in the Brewing Science forum.
But if Weyermann is to be believed, 2.4% should be their own target norm. It's almost as if they have little wherewithal by which to control this in their process. It's likely better to just use Lactic Acid if that is the case.
It's not whether Weyermann should be believed or not, as they are 100% a credible source, but rather that we are aware of the variables in the process that can change what we see batch to batch.
Error Source #1: Sauermalz isn't Lactic Acid. A.J. has shown the graph a number of times that shows the curves for Lactic and for Sauermalz and they are not even close.
Error Source #2: There are a number of similar but slightly different calculations for weight based Sauermalz pH prediction using Lactic Acid % as an input.
Error Source #3: Since Sauermalz is a malt, it's properties are affected by the specific pilsner malt lot used as it's base.
Error Source #4: The specifications and Acid % of the Sauergut used in making the Sauermalz can vary as well.
Even Weyermann (and for that matter anyone making Sauermalz) concedes that there is likely to be variation from the standard 1%/0.1 pH ROT.
I can say that much of this futzing around with Acid % numbers has been avoided on the last few batches I've made using the Gen. II engine and Sauermalz as a malt, with full titration info.