First time attempt at water treatment

[doug293cz]

After a few BIAB AG batches I did had a bad off taste and after some advice on here I think my water may be part of the problem
I've not done any water treatment before so hoping for some advice here.
...

Can you describe the "bad off taste"? If the water you are using is chlorinated, then there is a chance that the off taste is due to that. The simplest way to deal with both chlorine and choramine in your water is to add about 1/2 a Campden tablet per 10 gal of starting water.

Lack of "hops that pop" can also be due to too much O2 exposure post fermentation. What's your bottling/kegging procedure?

Brew on

 

[cochised]

If you want more of a "Water for Dummies" approach, I wrote a three part article a while back:
https://www.brewersfriend.com/2017/11/19/brewing-water-basics-part-1/
https://www.brewersfriend.com/2017/11/19/brewing-water-basics-part-2/
https://www.brewersfriend.com/2018/02/13/brewing-water-basics-putting-it-all-together/

Not that you're a dummy- it's me. It took me years reading everything I could about water for brewing, and asking both those two experts above many 'dumb' questions which they patiently answered. Once I felt totally comfortable with a moderately good working understanding of water chemistry in brewing, I wrote those articles.

It's not a be-all and end-all for pro brewers by any means, but I think it may help with some basic understanding for homebrewers.

Cheers
I must admit I'm struggling a bit with the water thing. In all honesty I see it as a means to an end for now, I just want to be able to brew a nice pale and not worry about that aspect of it, for now at least

 

[HTH1975]

Alas not on sale in Ireland anymore I don't think

Do you have Asda in Ireland? Their bottled water is decent for brewing too.

 

[cochised]

ASDA only up north, not down south

 

[HTH1975]

ASDA only up north, not down south

In the absence of big supermarket chains, you probably are best off just using acids to reduce alkalinity. I’d also get a water report so you know what your mineral content looks like.

 

[cochised]

Yeah, gonna sort a report next week or so, defitinely no point worrying about things unless I know my starting point

In meantime I think I'll get some bottled water from Tesco, listed the numbers a little further up the thread so I think a bit of acid addition and some gypsum will help there
Cheers

 

[HTH1975]

Yeah, gonna sort a report next week or so, defitinely no point worrying about things unless I know my starting point

In meantime I think I'll get some bottled water from Tesco, listed the numbers a little further up the thread so I think a bit of acid addition and some gypsum will help there
Cheers

If you’ve got Tesco Ashbeck, you won’t need to reduce alkalinity- it’s already 22ppm, so perfect for light beers.

You can add some gypsum if you want to increase calcium and sulphates. Depends on the style of beer you’re brewing.

 

[cochised]

The Tesco water down south appears to not be Ashbeck anymore
Following are the numbers listed on the Tesco site for their new still water

Ca 79.3
Mag 22
Pot 2
Sod 20
Bicarb 200
Sulph 35
Nitrate 4
Chloride 18

 

[HTH1975]

The Tesco water down south appears to not be Ashbeck anymore
Following are the numbers listed on the Tesco site for their new still water

Ca 79.3
Mag 22
Pot 2
Sod 20
Bicarb 200
Sulph 35
Nitrate 4
Chloride 18

I know they changed their smart-price brand water recently, as above, but the Ashbeck stuff that comes in 5L bottles is still low in calcium and alkalinity. Their website might just have the figures from the cheaper bottles. I’d suggest going to the store and looking on the bottle.

 

[HTH1975]

This is the Ashbeck stuff... https://www.tesco.com/groceries/en-...MI693lvPLr4QIVCyjTCh2S7wmLEAQYASABEgLyu_D_BwE

Still shows as alkalinity 25ppm

 

[HTH1975]

and the 5L bottles are the same... https://www.tesco.com/groceries/en-GB/products/267832188

 

[HTH1975]

This is their cheap stuff that does not list alkalinity/bicarbonates, but does list dry residue at 219ppm... https://www.tesco.com/groceries/en-GB/products/301456121

 

[cochised]

I'll have a look in store but think they've stopped selling Ashbeck altogether in the Republic and the one I listed is all they offer now

 

[cochised]

Think stuff we get here is bottled in Ireland so bicarbs will be high

 

[Silver_Is_Money]

This is their cheap stuff that does not list alkalinity/bicarbonates, but does list dry residue at 219ppm... https://www.tesco.com/groceries/en-GB/products/301456121

From what's given here I would initially estimate that alkalinity = ~130 ppm, and bicarb = ~159 ppm