Softest Water Possible

[digdan]

I'm trying to brew with the softest water I can manage. I'm obviously going to start with some RO water (Reverse Osmosis), which is as pure as bottled water.

My question is this: Do I need to burtonize? and how much is enough burtonization for a healthy fermentation?

 

[david_42]

Water chemistry of the world (not really) has a chart of the water chemistry of some of the great brewing cities of Europe. Burton has extremely hard water, Pilsen very soft. If you start with RO water and make a pilsner, you wouldn't make any adjustments. Don't kow what style Burton is famous for, but at least one reference talks about "sulphur overtones".

Decide on the style you are going to brew, look up where it originated and adjust.

You will probably need yeast nutrient for pilsners, as RO water has none available.

 

[ajf]

I depends entirely on what you are o brewing.

If you are brewing a Pilsner lager, then water Burton salts are the last thing you need..

If you are brewing a pale ale or a bitter, the Burton salts (or gypsum and Epsom salts) will be required if you start with pure water.

But it's also possible that you have perfectly good water for a bitter, in which case it makes no sense to remove the hardness with RO only to add it back again with water salts.

-a.

 

[chask31]

Hey AJF, where do you buy your ingredients? Im in queens, I go to Homebrew Too on the LIE, but have had trouble locating some ingredients like bitter orange and coriander seeds and had to buy online.

Sorry for the off topic post everyone

 

[mysterio]

Burton upon trent is famous for (arguably) inventing IPA. Therefore, 'burtonizing' water is good for hoppy brews because gypsius water accentuates hop flavours, or something along those lines. It will have no effect on the actual fermentation.

 

[ajf]

Hey AJF, where do you buy your ingredients? Im in queens, I go to Homebrew Too on the LIE, but have had trouble locating some ingredients like bitter orange and coriander seeds and had to buy online.

Sorry for the off topic post everyone

Karps Hardware in East Northport. (They have a small brewing section in the hardware store)
http://www.homebrewshop.com/

It's a long way from Queens, and I can't say I've ever noticed bitter orange or coriander seeds.

-a.

 

[chask31]

Yeah I called Karps a week or two ago and they dont have it. I called all the brewshops on the island (which isnt many) and it just seems to be hard to find around here. There is a guy who operates out of his house in Selden who says he has some. That is also pretty far for me so I just ordered online.