Boiling and charcoal filtering

[RobJ]

Hi all, I'm about to do my first AG batch on my E-HERMS system and was wondering if it's best to boil the water for the HLT then once it's cooled run it through a charcoal filter, or filter first then boil? My tap water is pretty good, but can't really tell if there's much chlorine etc. I've tested PH and is 7.7, not sure if I can dump that strate into the HLT with my grain, would be gratefull for any help guys, cheers


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[Squeek]

A carbon filter should remove the chlorine, so no need to boil.

 

[acidrain]

Just filter it right into your HLT.
There is no need to boil it.

 

[Spartan1979]

Why make it more complicated than it needs to be?

 

[RobJ]

I've got a u-bend charcoal filter so I'll run it through that straight into HLT, struggling with the PH tho, it's 7.7, do I adjust it during, before or after the mashing, and with what do I adjust it with, does it make much of a difference???
Cheers


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[Spartan1979]

Use a calculator like EZ Water to estimate the pH. Depending on what you are brewing, you may not have to do anything. I prefer to adjust the mash with acidulated malt beforehand. I adjust my sparge water with phosphoric acid.

 

[RobJ]

I'm brewing a ruddles county light ale, I've got some Epsom salts but not sure that's what I need, I'll check out the EZ calculator, this is my first batch and want to give it every chance I can to get it right. So you reakon check the pH of my mash and then make adjustments to sparge water? Cheers


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[Spartan1979]

From my experience, you have to wait about 15 minutes to check mash pH. By the time you get your sample cooled down and read it's probably too late to adjust the mash. The main value of reading it is so you can make adjustments in the next batch. So use a calculator to get yourself in the ballpark and and adjust the sparge water.

 

[RobJ]

I've printed off that EZ calculator, I'll fill in the blanks and see what comes up, it the adjustments I need to figure out, cheers bud


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