Top off with tap

[Bruinpilot]

I usually brew all grain and don't have this problem, but if I boil an extract brew can I dilute it with straight tap water or bottled water to get the desired gravity, or does this risk infection since it has not been boiled?

 

[SeeRoe]

I usually brew all grain and don't have this problem, but if I boil an extract brew can I dilute it with straight tap water or bottled water to get the desired gravity, or does this risk infection since it has not been boiled?

In the few partial boil extracts I did when first starting, I always topped off with straight tap water. Although, my tap water tastes great. YMMV, if you don't drink your tap water use bottled.

 

[lumpher]

I've topped off with tap water many times. no infection yet. i also live in the city with the cleanest tap water, though

 

[iijakii]

Another problem is to be chlorine in the water if you don't boil it off, right? Never done a partial boil myself so I don't know, but I've heard of off-flavors with that before.

 

[giraffe]

Ive topped off with tap, with n problems, but my city water is pretty clean, and its usually just a half gallon or so (ymmv). You can treat with a shaving of campaden if you are feeling paranoid, or your water tastes like a swimming pool.

 

[bucfan1234]

When I first started, I topped coopers cans with 3 or 4 gallons of tap water. I topped all of my early partial boil extract kits with a couple gallons of tap water. They were all fine.

 

[Bruinpilot]

Thanks. Saves a step. I might try some bottled water as well. I think the normal brewing progression is from extract to all grain. I started all grain, but since having kids it have become a lot lazier and have a lot less time on my hands. Extract brewing is simple to do in the kitchen, don't have to keep the kids away from a hot keggle and the results are not bad. Still way better and cheaper than what my supermarket has...