Let's say, hypothetically of course, someone added baking powder to the mash.

[klnosaj]

I know this guy who wants to know what would happen if, hypothetically speaking, of course, since what kind of idiot would ever actually do this? one were to add 1/2 teaspoon of baking powder to a mash instead of the 1/2 teaspoon of baking soda I....I mean this hypothetical person...meant to add?

 

[jescholler]

I think you'll probably be fine. The ingredients on my can of baking powder are cornstarch, sodium bicarbonate (baking soda), sodium aluminum sulfate, monocalcium phosphate.

I would think the cornstarch got converted in the mash, so shouldn't cause a haze. Baking power actually has baking soda. Sulfate, phosphate, and calcium (not sure what monocalcium is) are used in brewing:
http://www.beer-brewing.com/beer-brewing/brewing_water/minerals_brewing_water.htm
Not sure about the aluminum though. It's probably in small enough amounts that it won't be detectable.

 

[jescholler]

I forgot to add, I doubt the baking powder had the same effect on the pH as the baking soda would have. Either way, it's pretty much guess work, until you actually measure, so I doubt it made a dramatic difference.

What kind of beer are you making? I've found baking soda to be mostly unnecessary in brewing (I admit, there probably are a few rare cases where it is). I have extremely soft water and assumed I needed baking soda for a CDA I was making. I added 3/8 tsp to my mash and ended up with a pH of 5.6! That may have been the last time I use baking soda for brewing. I haven't done anything dark since, but from now on, I'll probably wait until I measure the pH to add any baking soda.

 

[bobbrews]

"Let's say, hypothetically of course, someone accidentally sat on an unsheathed banana covered in KY. I know this guy who wants to know what would happen if, hypothetically speaking, of course, since what kind of idiot would ever actually do this? one were to sit on an unsheathed banana covered in KY....I mean this hypothetical person...meant to add"

...You can see how this could be seen as unbelievable or even ridiculous, right? Just fess up and come clean that YOU actually added baking powder to your mash.

 

[usfmikeb]

Lol

 

[klnosaj]

What kind of beer are you making? I've found baking soda to be mostly unnecessary in brewing (I admit, there probably are a few rare cases where it is).

What kind of beer was I trying to make? You mean what kind of beer was the hypothetical brewer making, right?

And, hypothetically speaking, assume the addition was called for as a result of using water software, like, say, oh, I don't know...bru'nwater? Hypothetically, of course.

 

[amandabab]

baking powder is mostly corn starch and baking soda (with a few sulphates for co2 production)

so you added a little baking soda for a minor ph adjustment and a lot of starch that won't convert, your mash may fizz a bit.

it will ferment out a bit high but not be horrible, its only 1/2 a teaspoon of starch .

BTW: you need to freeze the hypothetical banana or the whole process gets messy.

 

[Fid]

BTW: you need to freeze the hypothetical banana or the whole process gets messy.

^ win.

 

[klnosaj]

baking powder is mostly corn starch and baking soda (with a few sulphates for co2 production)

so you added a little baking soda for a minor ph adjustment and a lot of starch that won't convert, your mash may fizz a bit.

it will ferment out a bit high but not be horrible, its only 1/2 a teaspoon of starch .

BTW: you need to freeze the hypothetical banana or the whole process gets messy.

But the final taste, you think, won't be impacted in a noticeable (or at least negatively noticeable) way? It's the aluminum and Monocalcium Phosphate that had me concerned. I discovered they use the latter in fertilizer.

 

[amandabab]

But the final taste, you think, won't be impacted in a noticeable (or at least negatively noticeable) way? It's the aluminum and Monocalcium Phosphate that had me concerned. I discovered they use the latter in fertilizer.

I really don't think it will, the amounts of those are very small. diluted to 5-10 gallons its nothing.

 

[jescholler]

so you added a little baking soda for a minor ph adjustment and a lot of starch that won't convert, your mash may fizz a bit.

Why wouldn't the starch convert? I'm pretty sure the enzymes in the malt would break it down to something fermentable.

 

[klnosaj]

Just for the record, the beer to which I accidentally added baking powder came out really poorly. It's tart as all hell; has an artificial, chemical taste; and a lingering, cloying, offensive bitterness in the aftertaste. It is, in other words, a dumper.

SO for those who have a similar question in the future, the answer is: yes, baking powder can ruin your beer.

 

[Gameface]

Just for the record, the beer to which I accidentally added baking powder came out really poorly. It's tart as all hell; has an artificial, chemical taste; and a lingering, cloying, offensive bitterness in the aftertaste. It is, in other words, a dumper.

SO for those who have a similar question in the future, the answer is: yes, baking powder can ruin your beer.

Okay, but what happened to the banana?

 

[breidenb]

So, in the interest of science, I know this guy that, who also added 1/2 tsp of baking powder to his mash. I will stay in touch with him and report back on how my, I mean his, schwarzbier turns out. He did mention that the post boil sample tasted fine.

 

[skysmyzer]

Well this is an old thread, funny thing is some guy asked me what would happen if he had done this exact thing in his robust porter in the weekend then threw some baking soda in at the end of the mash when he realised... I'll check back in with him when it's done and see how it turned out.

 

[Peaty Jones]

Well this is an old thread, funny thing is some guy asked me what would happen if he had done this exact thing in his robust porter in the weekend then threw some baking soda in at the end of the mash when he realised... I'll check back in with him when it's done and see how it turned out.

How did it turn out? I accidently and partially for fun sat on a banana too.

 

[fluketamer]

as a physician i still get the occasional " a friend of mine has this problem".

years ago a security guard at the hospital i work at came to me and said i got this friend who has a problem and hes wondering where he can get viagra.?"

years later he confessed he was the "friend" . i assured him i knew it all along, but didnt want to embarass him.

speaking of accidently sitting on things.

a patient and his wife came in one time with a glass (im just going to say object - since i dont know the rules here) in his rectum. they claimed he was showering and got out of the shower and sat on a light bulb - yeah i know the things people say. that did not go well for him btw. i am convinced the wife played a role in the patients condition because if she didn't he wouldn't have brought his wife in. he actually wouldn't have went to an ER in the same zipcode as his wife. actually he prolly would have gone to the moon to see a doctor or at least as far away as possible.

 

[Peaty Jones]

as a physician i still get the occasional " a friend of mine has this problem".

years ago a security guard at the hospital i work at came to me and said i got this friend who has a problem and hes wondering where he can get viagra.?"

years later he confessed he was the "friend" . i assured him i knew it all along, but didnt want to embarass him.

speaking of accidently sitting on things.

a patient and his wife came in one time with a glass (im just going to say object - since i dont know the rules here) in his rectum. they claimed he was showering and got out of the shower and sat on a light bulb - yeah i know the things people say. that did not go well for him btw. i am convinced the wife played a role in the patients condition because if she didn't he wouldn't have brought his wife in. he actually wouldn't have went to an ER in the same zipcode as his wife. actually he prolly would have gone to the moon to see a doctor or at least as far away as possible.

Its totally plausible. I mean I have light bulps laying around my house everywhere and I totally sit butt naked everywhere

 

[Bramling Cross]

I know a guy that is an ER doc, we have lunch sometimes because we make each other laugh and we like driving sports cars.

He enjoys dishing about stuff that he's pulled out of people's butts because it makes him feel important and I invariably find that amusing because I'm an idiot man child that thinks butts are the apex of humor and I think it's funny that he squandered years of his life and went deeply into debt to waste his days digging stuff out of people's butts.

The question that I have is this: Why are Darth Vader, Yoda, and Imperial Stormtroopers so popular?

Seriously, why?! Why would you do something so dumb in a world awash with Ben Kenobis?