Using reverse osmosis water

[rtstrider]

I've been reading up and it seems the general consensus is that you can use RO for brewing but it would need to be tweaked. Up till now I've been using the gallon jugs of spring water from walmart and it's been working fine. I was looking to cheapen the water source of the brews. I can get 5 gallons of RO water from walmart for around $1.50 so I've been eyeballing it. If I do this would I need to test ph and all that jazz? Right now I'm still a noob and trying to learn the basics before I start really messing with water chemistry. I have not been using tap water because ours has a funky taste. I have a filter on our fridge but the taste is still there and barely noticeable. Here is the system our local walmart uses

https://primowater.com/

 

[mabrungard]

Spring Water is a meaningless 'red herring' in brewing. You often won't know what's in the water and the fact that it comes from a spring source does not make it more suited or suitable for brewing. RO water is more likely to be suited for most brewing. The only caution is that you need to check the RO water to make sure it has low TDS (<50 ppm). You'll need a TDS meter with you to check the water. The meters are cheap.

 

[rtstrider]

I have 3 gallons of spring water left and will combine that with 5 gallons of RO water. Thanks!

 

[Hwk-I-St8]

I've been reading up and it seems the general consensus is that you can use RO for brewing but it would need to be tweaked. Up till now I've been using the gallon jugs of spring water from walmart and it's been working fine. I was looking to cheapen the water source of the brews. I can get 5 gallons of RO water from walmart for around $1.50 so I've been eyeballing it. If I do this would I need to test ph and all that jazz? Right now I'm still a noob and trying to learn the basics before I start really messing with water chemistry. I have not been using tap water because ours has a funky taste. I have a filter on our fridge but the taste is still there and barely noticeable. Here is the system our local walmart uses

https://primowater.com/

I use RO water. I use the paid version of Bru'nWater and dial in my mineral profile and ph using that. For a NEIPA, for example, I shoot for 150ppm chloride and 75ppm sulfate using gypsum and calcium chloride.

To get my pH right, I need about 2 oz acidulated malt. I started out checking the pH with a borrowed meter, but it was also right there so I don't even bother anymore. The results have been spectacular.