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isukendall

Member
Joined
Apr 26, 2011
Messages
23
Reaction score
1
Location
Fort Collins
Hello guys/gals, my first post here. Thanks to all of you for your insight. I live in Fort Collins, CO, am an a conossieur of the local brews, and have taken the brewing class at Colorado State University. I started homebrewing after the class, and have made seven brews so far. Only did a couple with full extract, now doing partial mash, not enough equipment to do full mash yet. They've all gone very well, getting better every time. God Bless Hops and Berries in FoCo, I hope you are all lucky enough to have a place like that.

I have a unique idea for a beer that I'm guessing has never been proposed before. I'm originally from central Nebraska, and my grandparents have a farm "pond" that I grew up fishing on. I say "pond" because it's quite large, probably around ten acres when full. I would like to brew a beer while on a pontoon on the pond. It would be a chore of course, but the place is nothing less than sacred to me and it would be a blast to make a beer there.

My question is: could I make a beer using the pond water? I know what you're all thinking: you should use the best water possible, and pond water would probably not be good to use. But what if I filtered it, either through a hand/backpacking filter or through a Brita filter. The water is actually very clear before the pond turns over, you can see to the bottom of it. I would think if you could filter it, it may be clean enough to use. The place is very special to me, I grew up there and spent many Saturday afternoons pulling largemouth and crappie out of there.

Obviously, the cleaner the water, the better the beer, but I think if it could be filtered properly, the "soul" of the beer would make it enough of a novelty that it would be worth trying, as long as it at least turned out okay. Not a ton of thought yet regarding the style, but would call it "Tall Tale Ale" based on the fish caught out there.

Is this worth even trying? I'm guessing I'll get ten replies no for every one yes, but just want to get some feedback.

Thanks and thanks again for your feedback.

-K
 
Filter it and give it a taste (and make sure the filter will trap any nasties). If it tastes good to drink, it's most likely good to brew with. You'll have to guess at salt additions, though (or not, depending upon what kind of filer you use), but most brewers have dealt with worse. I hope it turns out well.
 
I don't see a problem with the idea if you filter it. The boil will take care of anything alive and the filter should take out any crap. As long as it tastes okay (and there's no pesticide runoff from farms) it should be fine.
 
I don't see a problem with the idea if you filter it. The boil will take care of anything alive and the filter should take out any crap. As long as it tastes okay (and there's no pesticide runoff from farms) it should be fine.

Mostly pasture land upstream, pesticides not a worry. Thanks for the advice.
 
I agree. If it tastes good, its good to brew with. If you decide to go full mash on this one, I'd probably use some 5.2 just to make sure your pH is right.
 
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