gypsum??

[Billybrewer09]

Just wondering when to add gypsum and where, mash, sparge water or kettle.

 

[Nateo]

Any of those will work. It depends on what you want the gypsum to do. Are you using the Ca+ for its effect on mash pH? Do you need Ca+ for yeast health? Do you just want sulfate in the finished beer?

 

[bschoenb]

I live in the Detroit Water System; I add one teaspoon Gypsum in the Boil Kettle for the Calcium; Our CA is 30 PPM. If I'm doing a lighter Beer then one More in the Mash Tun.

You IL water might be similiar?


But I do have to admit; I understand allot, but Water Chemistry is not one of them?!

 

[Nembrionic]

I live in the Detroit Water System; I add one teaspoon Gypsum in the Boil Kettle for the Calcium; Our CA is 30 PPM. If I'm doing a lighter Beer then one More in the Mash Tun.

You IL water might be similiar?


But I do have to admit; I understand allot, but Water Chemistry is not one of them?!

Over here the philosophy is that if you don't know what you're doing(when it comes to water treatment)...then don't do it at all.

 

[Nateo]

Over here the philosophy is that if you don't know what you're doing(when it comes to water treatment)...then don't do it at all.

That's good advice. Don't mess with things just for the sake of messing with things. Every ingredient should have a purpose.

 

[bschoenb]

Over here the philosophy is that if you don't know what you're doing(when it comes to water treatment)...then don't do it at all.

Yep! ; But my local Brewmaster for one of the MicroBreweries told me how he treats his water ... ; I kinda copied it

 

[lamppa]

Over here the philosophy is that if you don't know what you're doing(when it comes to water treatment)...then don't do it at all.

this isnt an "over here" philosophy.

its is the truth.
just use your tap water until you get a water report and understand how the chemistry effects the whole schbang.

 

[Nembrionic]

Yep! ; But my local Brewmaster for one of the MicroBreweries told me how he treats his water ... ; I kinda copied it

Did you also get a copy of his recipe? Otherwise his advise is useless

 

[Nembrionic]

this isnt an "over here" philosophy.

its is the truth.
just use your tap water until you get a water report and understand how the chemistry effects the whole schbang.

Fair enough

 

[bschoenb]

If it's not Broke; then Mess with it! Or at least take it apart.......

 

[Billybrewer09]

I asked because i was told my hops were not coming through or a little flabby in my beers and the judve said adding gypsum would help. I use my municipal water supply and do not have a water report.

 

[fletchsj]

You might think about just adding more hops... I have different water than you, but I have found that trying to use water salts as some magic trick to make beers hoppy just hasn't worked for me. I just double my hop addition at 60 and mission accomplished. Or, you can go get a chemistry degree and teach the rest of us. Thanks in advance if you choose option #2

 

[Nateo]

Magnesium + sulfate = epsom salt. Epsom salt tastes unpleasantly bitter. I'd be very careful adding sulfate (gypsum is calcium sulfate) if you're not sure of the magnesium content of your water.

 

[fletchsj]

Magnesium + sulfate = epsom salt. Epsom salt tastes unpleasantly bitter. I'd be very careful adding sulfate (gypsum is calcium sulfate) if you're not sure of the magnesium content of your water.

Too much Epsom salt will also make you poo yourself. Be careful of adding too much... the people who help you drink it will thank you

 

[Tinman13]

I live in the Detroit Water System; I add one teaspoon Gypsum in the Boil Kettle for the Calcium; Our CA is 30 PPM. If I'm doing a lighter Beer then one More in the Mash Tun.

You IL water might be similiar?


But I do have to admit; I understand allot, but Water Chemistry is not one of them?!

I live in St Clair Shores, I have never added Gypsum, looks like I should?
I'm not doing AG do I still need to add?
Is the 1tsp for light beers only? more for darks?

 

[fletchsj]

I live in St Clair Shores, I have never added Gypsum, looks like I should?
I'm not doing AG do I still need to add?
Is the 1tsp for light beers only? more for darks?

So it's not based on add this to light or add this to darks.... please do some reading up on water chemistry. You will save yourself from headaches. There is plenty of resources and discussions on this forum. another place to look is if you have software like beer smith, Beer tools pro, promash etc they have examples of different cities water... might help you understand what we're talking about.

Till then add more hops if you want a hoppier beer

 

[WhiskeySam]

1. Buy Palmer's book.
2. Read (and understand) what he writes about water chemistry, and residual alkalinity.
3. Repeat if you don't understand.
4. Obtain a water quality report from your local water district.

His monograph is a little complicated, plug your local water chemistry report into the EZ Water Calculator spreadsheet (somebody has the link).

This really should be repeated in bold over and over again, like the rule about carbonating in bottles at 70 degrees for at least three weeks. It should just be one of those axiomatic things that everybody does.

Understand your water. If you don't understand it, don't add anything to it.