Brew water questions

[robmartin113]

Hey guys. Hopefully someone can help me out.

I recently brewed two 5 gallon batches. One pale ale, the other an amber ale. Regular all grain brewing techniques.

The pale ale has a distinctive chlorine polyphenolic taste. Amber ale is similar but muted. Then I remembered that there was water main work done in my neighborhood so I know it is the water that messed these up. I got lazy and will probably dump the pale ale, but, alas, it is what it is.

Going forward, I suppose I will buy my brewing water or get a RO system. In the meantime, do you guys think filtering my water through a Brita or other charcoal type filter could remove the chlorine/chloramines in the water prior to brewing?? The Brita website says it removes "chlorine taste and smell." Do they mean just the smell and taste or will the Brita actually remove those elements/compounds?


Sorry for rambling. Short on time as I type this.

 

[ajdelange]

It removes them or, more correctly, reduces the chlorine (in both forms) to chloride ion which isn't objectionable (quite the opposite in fact, up to a point). A Brita is going to be a PITA for handling even a few gallons of water. Campden tablets are a much handier solution. See the Sticky at https://www.homebrewtalk.com/showthread.php?t=361073

 

[robmartin113]

Appreciate the reply. Thanks for the tip and pointing me in the right direction.

I agree with the Brita being a PITA. Roommate had one in college and we ended up running the sink overnight through the filter into the boil kettle to get our brew water. :rockin: Total PITA.