Brewing with mineral water

[mcohare]

I have access to a wide variety of mineral water sources. Attached is a chart of the different mineral springs' water content. There are 9 different springs. If you are interested in water content, please review the chart and advise.

 

[avidhomebrewer]

My tap water tastes just fine. I've already brewed with my well water, albeit a bit hard, but it also tastes good.

 

[Ramitt]

You might want to post this in the brew science forum and frankly do some reading there. I have not read up enough on water chemistry to advise.

 

[chickypad]

Those are some seriously alkaline water sources. I would not use any of those for brewing.

 

[veritas524]

Those are some seriously alkaline water sources. I would not use any of those for brewing.

The mineral content is through the roof as well....

 

[looneybomber]

I don't know anything about water chemistry so I just use filtered tap water.

 

[NordeastBrewer77]

Those are some seriously alkaline water sources. I would not use any of those for brewing.

Totally agree with this. At lease cut it 50:50 w/ R/O or something. Personally, if I am questioning my tap water, as I do this time of year with all the run off into the river, I use bottled spring water from the grocer's. Hasn't let me down yet, and the store brands are usually cheap.

 

[jonmohno]

Ive narrowed it down to one spring water from the store i like(i think) but sometimes not shure.I couldnt get a report from it and frankly dont really know how to go about even using the report to adjust.

I just go by my mash ph and adjust with salts til i hit a good 5.2ish. I almost think i like using r/o water with the brewing salts more but its lacking minerals so i use some yeast energizer which has them. Playing with water chemistry is not fun or easy.

 

[Yooper]

Those are some seriously alkaline water sources. I would not use any of those for brewing.

Yep- each one of those sources is useless for brewing. The alkalinity is WAY too high for all of them.

 

[bob1852]

Yep- each one of those sources is useless for brewing. The alkalinity is WAY too high for all of them.

Plus, half of them are undrinkable. I've done the Manitou spring tasting tour many times.

 

[d_striker]

Bringing this thread back from the dead.

Bierwerks in Woodland Park makes a pale ale using the water from Twin Springs in Manitou. They dilute it a bit and do quite a bit of other stuff.

I can't help but think it's more of a novelty than anything.

http://www.csindy.com/IndyBlog/archives/2012/10/04/bierwerks-brews-a-manitou-spring-water-beer