Water Test - Thoughts?

[mgortel]

I just got an updated water test from Ward Laboratories.....quite different from my water test I got 1.5 years ago in mid-summer: Some of the more important values.....

January 2012 June 2010
Total Alkalinity 89 23
Total Hardness 68 119
Calcium 14 26
Bicarbonate 109 28

So I made a Hefeweizen back in November 2012 and it has a really funky aftertaste....grainy astringent taste...maybe tannins....

Based on Bru'nwater , my recipe, and June 2010 water test....Brunwater predicted a pH of 5.6 (I did not have pH meter at time I made brew)....which isn't terrible....still would have been a little higher than I wanted.....

BUT...with the most recent water test my mash pH would be 5.9....so I am thinking maybe the off flavors could be from too high a mash pH??

Any thoughts on that?

Also, surprised at difference in water chemistry....I guess it could be a winter summer thing or where they pull water from at different times of year....kind of makes it hard to account for water chemistry without doing a test every time I brew which is impractical.

 

[mabrungard]

If you didn't acidify that water to neutralize that elevated bicarb content, the taste result is almost certainly a result of elevated pH in the mash and wort. Both have negative effect.

If the water supply can vary as much as you highlight, there is a requirement to test the water before each brew. However, you don't need to send a sample off to Ward. The most important parameter is alkalinity, followed by calcium hardness. Both of these can be monitored with water test kits produced for aquariums. Cheap, simple, and easy to do.

 

[mgortel]

Awesome...thank you for the guidance and rcommendation on aquarium test kits.

 

[mgortel]

So a kit like this would do.....?


http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?pcatid=16560&cmpid=03csegpl&ref=6111&subref=AA&CAWELAID=525415974&catargetid=1570177585&cagpspn=pla

 

[Kaiser]

That tests only Alkalinity. I suggest that you get a test for GH&KH:

Google shopping link for GH KH Test.


I use this one: http://braukaiser.com/wiki/index.php?title=At_home_water_testing

I also suggest that you read your town's Water Quality report to your town's different sources of water. That may give you an idea about the changes that you can expect.

Kai

 

[mabrungard]

I use the kits Kai mentions...API. But I've noticed over the months that the UK brewers all seem to use Salifert kits. Has anyone had experience with those?