Do you filter brewing water?

[arnobg]

If so what product do you use and how do you like it?

When you sent off water samples to Ward for analysis did you send a sample that was sent through your systems filter?

 

[jimyson]

I use an RO System from Buckeye Hydro. I upgraded the filters and added a pressure gauge. I'm very happy with this product. They are also a sponsor here.

http://www.buckeyehydro.com/residential-ro-system/

 

[kirbcheck]

I do not filter. Straight out of the garden hose.

 

[Gavin C]

If so what product do you use and how do you like it?

When you sent off water samples to Ward for analysis did you send a sample that was sent through your systems filter?

I filter with this.

I had a similar debate when sending my sample to Ward labs and decided on sending the filtered sample. The filter does not do much at the flow rate I use. I question the need for its use to be honest.

I continue to use it just to keep continuity with my sample I submitted. Kinda silly really

 

[Stillraining]

I do not filter. Straight out of the garden hose.

What he said

 

[Gavin C]

I do not filter. Straight out of the garden hose.

I'd give the garden hose a miss. There are better options designed for drinking water.

 

[d3track]

I filter with this.

I had a similar debate when sending my sample to Ward labs and decided on sending the filtered sample. The filter does not do much at the flow rate I use. I question the need for its use to be honest.

I continue to use it just to keep continuity with my sample I submitted. Kinda silly really

I use the same thing, my thinking is it helps make sure nothing from all the pipes and plumbing gets into the water.

 

[Qhrumphf]

I just use straight tap water but treat for chlorine/chloramine with potassium metabisulfite and then adjust with various water salts depending on the profile I want. Requires acid in most brews to reach the right mash pH.

 

[TX_Brewing]

RO from the grocery store 29 cents a gallon.

I can also get DI water but that is .35

 

[Gavin C]

I use the same thing, my thinking is it helps make sure nothing from all the pipes and plumbing gets into the water.

That is my thinking also

I just use straight tap water but treat for chlorine/chloramine with potassium metabisulfite and then adjust with various water salts depending on the profile I want. Requires acid in most brews to reach the right mash pH.

I also do all of this. Important to eliminate chloramines/chlorine.
Add appropriate minerals to taget and acid malt used in the grist to adjust predicted mash pH

RO from the grocery store 29 cents a gallon.

+1 alternate option.
Or I use RO for certain beers where a soft baseline is very useful. Pilsner is one recent example.

Minerals and pH adjusted as before

 

[kirbcheck]

I'd give the garden hose a miss. There are better options designed for drinking water.

I assume your concern is with lead build up in the hose?

I considered using hose like that. But truth be told I need more than 50' of hose to connect to the one faucet on the house and reach my garage. Lead buildup really only happens when water sits in the hose for extended periods of time. If you run the hose for a minute you'll flush it out which is good enough to me.

 

[govner1]

If so what product do you use and how do you like it?



When you sent off water samples to Ward for analysis did you send a sample that was sent through your systems filter?

I have both hot & cold water hose bibs in my brewery ( garage). I use a filter a carbon filter designed for each when I fill my HLT. the hot water source let's me start at 120°-130°.
I also use beverage grade hose w/ these filters.

 

[Gavin C]

I assume your concern is with lead build up in the hose?

I considered using hose like that. But truth be told I need more than 50' of hose to connect to the one faucet on the house and reach my garage. Lead buildup really only happens when water sits in the hose for extended periods of time. If you run the hose for a minute you'll flush it out which is good enough to me.

No.

Lead is not my concern

But if your happy with the resulting beer then there is no issue for you either.

 

[kirbcheck]

No.

Lead is not my concern

But if your happy with the resulting beer then there is no issue for you either.

Then what's the issue? Maybe I should revisit my coziness with the garden hose.

 

[Qhrumphf]

Then what's the issue? Maybe I should revisit my coziness with the garden hose.

You can often taste it. Especially if you're not judicious with flushing the hose prior to use.

 

[kanno]

For now, I use this filter housing with these carbon filters. The water comes from my shower head (apt brewing is always an adventure), through a food safe hose that hooks into the filter. Then it comes out via a vinyl tube.

I want to get better filters for it ASAP, but am a little unsure on what will fit the housing I bought. I'd love to get a 0.5 micron filter, but for now the carbon filters have improved my beer, coffee, and tea.

I do my best to use it every once and a while to keep things flushed. I usually run it for a min before I fill my kettle as well.

 

[madcowbrewing]

Good old Portland tap water......DELICIOUS!

 

[augiedoggy]

I bought a max water RO system on ebay for $120 or so about 3 years ago... It was mainly for my reef tank but when I realized how important the water quality is for lighter beers I started using it for all my beers but my porters and stouts... HUGE improvement... For one thing it takes way less lactic acid to bring my ph down to the 5.2 mark... The tap water in western NY off the Niagara river where I live is very hard and while great for stouts, makes nasty tasting pilsners without doing this OMHO. I have a TDS and ph meter so its easy to see the differences there as well. (ro ph is much easier to adjust)

I do add the recommended calcium cloride and sometimes gypsum depending on beer style but havent really gotten any further involved in the water chemistry than that yet.

 

[Gavin C]

Then what's the issue? Maybe I should revisit my coziness with the garden hose.

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