Brewing with unfiltered tap water advice

[BrewnWKopperKat]

I acidify all brewing water first with phosphoric acid to 5.5 pH according to Gordon Strong’s suggestion from Sierra Nevada school.

... and there's more info on this approach in his two books + home brew con presentations - adjusting brewing water to pH 5.5 is just one of the interlocking pieces of his brewing process.

Also, in the ealry 2020s, there are a couple of brewers who have extended this process to include some of the easier reduced oxygen techniques. They post recipes (including process) from time to time in various home brewing forums.

 

[BlueHouseBrewhaus]

My water varies by season. My town mixes town well water with reservoir water piped in. The mix varies by season - winter vs summer. I did two Wards analyses in different seasons with significantly different results. So now I can just do a quick alkalinity test and calcium test to figure out which profile I'm dealing with and adjust accordingly. If I'm doing something particularly light, I'll just use RO to make life easier.

Bottom line - a Wards analysis is well worth the minimal expense.

 

[BrewnWKopperKat]

a quick alkalinity test and calcium test to figure out which profile I'm dealing with and adjust accordingly

What is a good source for these test kits?

 

[z-bob]

What is a good source for these test kits?

Do you have any local fish (aquarium) stores? I would ask there. Saltwater aquariums are much more stringent in their water requirements than we are. They'll probably do the tests for cheap, or they may have a recent test of the local water supply on hand.

(something I was familiar with 30 years ago; maybe it's all changed since then)

 

[BlueHouseBrewhaus]

What is a good source for these test kits?

I got mine online. They are small kits from a company called Salifert. Each kit will do 50-100 tests. Aquarium supply places will have it or just try Amazon.

 

[garvinator70]

If you can drink the water, you can brew beer with it. All the places I've lived have had very palatable tap water and made great beer in turn. Some of the places I've visited have had the most vile tap water. Would never brew with Vegas water.

can you use well water that is good tasting

 

[FloppyKnockers]

can you use well water that is good tasting

Never had to use well water, but I would try it to see how it would turn out.

 

[garvinator70]

Never had to use well water, but I would try it to see how it would turn out.

well water taste good no smells just worried it may not have enough minerals

 

[FloppyKnockers]

well water taste good no smells just worried it may not have enough minerals

In Texas, all water is well water. Not sure if it's treated when it gets to the towers or not. I would assume it does. I would get it tested for peace of mind and maybe make a batch with it while you're waiting for the results.

 

[jtgoral]

My village gets water from Lake Michigan. I use tap water + 1 campden tablet per 5 gallon batch.

 

[Geezer-Glide]

What is a good source for these test kits?

I bought mine at "more beer" I believe. They list for a little over $200. There is nearly always a sale going on at one of the on-line suppliers

 

[Buckeye_Hydro]

The term "well water" tells/implies nothing about the quality of the water - it only tells you that the water comes from the ground. It could be exceptional, or it could be foul (we've seen both), or anywhere in between.

Russ

 

[BrewnWKopperKat]

They list for a little over ...

What specific products are you referring to?

@BlueHouseBrewhaus mentioned a couple of aquarium water test kits ealier

small kits from a company called Salifert. Each kit will do 50-100 tests.

that appear to be around 1/10 the price you mentioned.

---

FWIW, those kits are also mentioned in Beginners Guide to [tap] Water Treatment.

 

[Geezer-Glide]

What specific products are you referring to?

@BlueHouseBrewhaus mentioned a couple of aquarium water test kits ealier



that appear to be around 1/10 the price you mentioned.

---

FWIW, those kits are also mentioned in Beginners Guide to [tap] Water Treatment.

Sorry, I DO know there are a number of different kits. The one I bought was:

LaMotte - BrewLab Basic Water Test Kit 7189-02​

<start quoted text> The BrewLab Basic® water testing kit, model 7189-02, for home brewers quantifies 7 important water test factors. Experts agree water conditions affect your final product, so take the mystery out of making great beer. <end quoted text>

It seems to be tailored to the home brewer and I have been very satisfied with it. I have no connection with the manufacturer or vendor. Just a satisfied user. It helped my beer. It will likely do ~ 50 tests so each test costs ~ $4.10 each. What'd not to like?

 

[dmaxweb]

Attached are my local water reports. I plan on using Campden to remove the Chloride and the add back as needed.
However the sodium content is 73.6 ppm. Would you recommend using partial or total RO water?

 

[AlexKay]

Attached are my local water reports. I plan on using Campden to remove the Chloride and the add back as needed.
However the sodium content is 73.6 ppm. Would you recommend using partial or total RO water?

Salty but otherwise good.

Campden won't remove chloride, it'll remove chlorine and its byproducts, which is what you want.

If it were me, I wouldn't worry about the sodium, at least at first. It's solely a taste issue -- it doesn't affect any mash chemistry or fermentation -- so if you can't notice or don't mind a little saltiness (it can be an advantage for dark beer!) you're all good. If you notice or mind, then cutting your tap water with RO will fix things.

 

[rtstrider]

Wanted to pop back in and give an update. I was able to reach the brewer that got the report of the water across the street. They confirmed it is beyond crazy soft untreated. They said they sent the untreated and treated (with charcoal filter) to Wards labs. They confirmed the untreated was almost a blank slate and that the charcoal filter treated option was darn near RO levels. I have noticed the brews are actually coming out better now that I quit futzing around with the water outside of Campden and Lactic acid.

 

[RyPA]

Would letting the water sit for 12/24 hours eliminate chlorine. IIRC, I read that chlorine evaporates off over time.

 

[Buckeye_Hydro]

Chlorine will volatilize, chloramine will not. You can encourage the chlorine to volatilize by aerating the water.

 

[IslandLizard]

Would letting the water sit for 12/24 hours eliminate chlorine. IIRC, I read that chlorine evaporates off over time.

Why not use a good pinch of Meta Sulphite (Campden)?
It eliminates all Chlorine and Chloramines instantly. You don't have to wait, and takes away the uncertainty it didn't get evaporated overnight.

 

[Buckeye_Hydro]

Why not use a good pinch of Meta Sulphite (Campden)?
It eliminates all Chlorine and Chloramines instantly. You don't have to wait, and takes away the uncertainty it didn't get evaporated overnight.

Or run it through a carbon block.

 

[RyPA]

Why not use a good pinch of Meta Sulphite (Campden)?
It eliminates all Chlorine and Chloramines instantly. You don't have to wait, and takes away the uncertainty it didn't get evaporated overnight.

I currently use 1/2 a Campden tab every time for a 5-6 gallon batch. I was thinking if I can eliminate chlorine from the water by letting it sit, it may be better than adding a Campden to the water.

 

[IslandLizard]

I currently use 1/2 a Campden tab every time for a 5-6 gallon batch. I was thinking if I can eliminate chlorine from the water by letting it sit, it may be better than adding a Campden to the water.

You'd only need 1/4 tablet per 5 gallons of water (1 tablet treats [EDIT] 20 liter or 5 gallons 20 gallons or 75 liters) but using almost double, as you do, won't do any harm.

I stir in a small, equivalent amount of Potassium Metabisulphite powder when I fill the bucket(s). It dissolves faster than a crushed tablet. I've never been able to taste it.

Can you be sure all chlorine would dissipate overnight, or even over 24 hours, from a (deep) bucket unless it gets stirred a few times?

 

[RyPA]

You'd only need 1/4 tablet per 5 gallons of water (1 tablet treats 20 liter or 5 gallons of water)

That contradicts itself, did you mean 1 tab treats 20 gallons?

I recall reading somewhere it was half a tab for 5g but I'll switch to 1/4 based on your advice. Or, maybe because I use 9 or so gallons of water to make wort is why I use half a tab.

 

[CascadesBrewer]

I recall reading somewhere it was half a tab for 5g but I'll switch to 1/4 based on your advice. Or, maybe because I use 9 or so gallons of water to make wort is why I use half a tab.

I have read 1 tablet treats 20 gals of water. Since my batch targeting 5.5 gals into the fermenter uses around 8 gallons of water, I use half a tablet. For years I just crushed up one tablet per batch, and never seemed to notice it. At some point I tossed half a bag of tablets because I read they can get ineffective with age and I am sure I purchased them 8+ year prior...so I am not too worried about "saving money" using less than half a tablet.

 

[IslandLizard]

That contradicts itself, did you mean 1 tab treats 20 gallons?

Yeah, sorry, 20 gallons or 75 liter.
I'll fix that.