Can I use RO water for the mash and sparge or should I turn off my water softner and take water from the tap? My water ph is 8..
RO water for mash?
- Thread starter JoshGarvey
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RO water is great! As far as your tap water, it may be fine for brewing as well, but you need to know the water make up to say for sure.
I use a mix of tap water and RO water for many of my beers.
Do you have a water report?
If you use 100% RO water, make sure you add 1 teaspoon of calcium chloride to every 5 gallons of mash water. But sparging with 100% RO water is preferred anyway, so that would work great.
I use the 5.2 ph stabilizer in my mash. Is that the same as calcium chloride?
Thanks for affirming I can use my RO system. For extracts, it makes great beer.
Thanks for affirming I can use my RO system. For extracts, it makes great beer.
No, the stabilizer is not even close to calcium chloride. Chuck that, and use the calcium chloride.
I'll give that a shot. Can I get it at a lhbs?
Yes! and grab some gypsum too while you are there.
There is a great water chemistry primer in the brew science forum "sticky" area. https://www.homebrewtalk.com/f128/brewing-water-chemistry-primer-198460/
There are lots of posts in there, but the basics are covered in the first post. In short, use the CaCl2 in all beers. Add gypsum for beers that you want to have enhanced bitterness in.
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