Have been overlooking a sanitation point, but yet to be burned

[kanderna]

Hey all -

I just stumbled onto a thread and caught a step that I've always overlooked in brewing my three batches. And that is in regard to adding the 2.5 gal of cold water to the boiled wort. I've never boiled this 2.5 gallons.

So... did I get lucky three times or is my water just that good? It's city water filtered through our fridge.

 

[phatuna]

I'm not sure if it's luck or not. I've been successful adding filtered (non-boiled) water as I'm sure many others have as well. I've done it because I was lazy / brewing while drinking

I think that it is good practice to boil any additions (post boil) just because it's not that hard and will give you piece of mind.

I think that beer is a lot more tolerant than we give it credit, however it's not worth wasting your hard earned money on a spoiled batch by cutting corners now that you are aware.

 

[mc_eric]

yeah, beer is a very hostile environment for microbes to live in. If it were me, I probably WOULD boil the water from now on, just for the "peace of mind" aspect, but you should be fine just using the water as-is. After all, it's not like they put microbes in tap water (or bottled water), they take steps to get rid of them.

 

[Brewpastor]

Chlorine and chlorides are a bigger problem. Charcoal filtration should take care of them.

 

[dontman]

Plus 1 to Brewpastor. The fact that you are using your fridge's water filter is taking care of pretty much most of the risk.

I don't think its luck that you haven't had a problem, I think its the nature of beer.

 

[kanderna]

Kinda what I figured. Couldn't imagine that our drinking water is all full of bugs and other organisms that can cause a problem (although it has happened, I'm sure). Likely helps that I am using the fridge filter vs. tap as well.

 

[phatuna]

Kaderna, not to steal your thread here but you bring up an interesting point that I've been thinking about.

I also have a fridge filter, but to get that thing to pump out 7 - 9 gallons of water for an AG batch would literally take at least an hour or perhaps a couple of hours.

What do others do to filter their tap water, while not wasting a whole day to do it?

 

[pnj]

When I topped off, I would buy a few bottles of water from the store. gallon is like 99 cents.

I'd put them in the fridge/freezer and use them to help drop my temps down before I pitch my yeast.

 

[ifishsum]

Since I'm doing partial boils, I buy the store brand spring water in gallon jugs. Putting them in the freezer 3-4 hours before I use them really helps chill the wort to pitching temperature. Only adds $2-3 to the cost of the batch.

As for filtering several gallons, an RV dealership or accesories store sells a filter that's designed to go in-line with an RV water supply hose (same fittings as a garden hose). They have good flow rate and the better models have a replaceable carbon impregnated filter that should do the trick.

 

[phatuna]

ifish, thanks for the idea here. Is this what you are talking about? looks like it would work great. Amazon.com: Camco 40043 TastePURE RV Water Filter with Flexible Hose Protector: Automotive

 

[carnevoodoo]

I have one of these fitted with quick hose disconnects that I use for filtering water:
GE Household Water Filtration Unit - GXWH04F at The Home Depot

 

[dontman]

As for filtering several gallons, an RV dealership or accesories store sells a filter that's designed to go in-line with an RV water supply hose (same fittings as a garden hose). They have good flow rate and the better models have a replaceable carbon impregnated filter that should do the trick.

This sounds pretty good. My water is pretty hard and for my very light beers I would like to reduce the mineral level a touch. What I do now is purchase a few gallons of distilled water to add to the sparge and reduce the total mineral salts in the batch.

EDIT: Done. I just Amazon ordered an inline RV filter and drinking water hose for $32.

 

[LordHedgie]

I also have a fridge filter, but to get that thing to pump out 7 - 9 gallons of water for an AG batch would literally take at least an hour or perhaps a couple of hours.

What do others do to filter their tap water, while not wasting a whole day to do it?

I've been very happy with this. You can hook it up to a garden hose, or use an adapter to hook it to a sink. Either way, a lot of water in very little time.

https://morebeer.com/view_product/16762/102362/Water_Filter_Kit_-_10_inch

 

[johnd4]

I have a PUR water filter that I put on the faucet in the kitchen. I use it for the boil water and the top-up water. Among other things it takes out the chloramines. So far, so good.

 

[Trevor57]

I have used distilled water every time. My grocery sells a 2.5 gallon jug for $2.

 

[Grinder12000]

I went to Walgreens and purchased a $30 charcoal filter that fits on our laundry sink. Works great.

For light brews I add 5.2 buffer.

 

[Random_Guy]

I like to myself use spring water from my area to make the beer with. I used them when I had the dinky Mr. Beer kit and the beer I made came out fine. For my first real homebrew I used well water from my friends house which to most people including myself tastes absolutely delicious! I hope it helps out somehow.

 

[kanderna]

Maybe I could do what Pete Coors does. Doesn't he just go dig some water out of the nearest river (read: mountain stream)? Of course, I don't ever want my beer to taste like his.

 

[Rick500]

Although I still use bottled spring water for brewing, I have an under-the-sink cartridge filter that took a half hour to install and only cost $25. You should be able to find them at Walmart/Target/etc. They use a cylindrical cartridge, maybe 2" in diameter and 8" tall. They work very well.

 

[conpewter]

This sounds pretty good. My water is pretty hard and for my very light beers I would like to reduce the mineral level a touch. What I do now is purchase a few gallons of distilled water to add to the sparge and reduce the total mineral salts in the batch.

EDIT: Done. I just Amazon ordered an inline RV filter and drinking water hose for $32.

Heya! The charcol filter will make water taste better and remove some chlorine but it won't remove any of the minerals. You need either an RO system or at least a DI filter (very very short life without an RO membrane in front of it).

I have an under-sink filter set up that I pull my brewing water through, but I still dilute my water with distilled and add back gypsum and some epsom salts when I need to make a lighter SRM beer.

 

[njnear76]

I just use Tap water and a Campden tablet.