Who's my Chicago homebrewers?

[TyTanium]

Sounds good. I'd been leaving top off water out over night but if there is that much I'll buy some tablets. My next brew is going to be a gift so I want it to taste add good as possible.

Hmm...I don't remember how long it takes to evaporate out, but overnight should be a drastic reduction at least. Well, for $1.50 or so I suppose the Campden is a worth a shot for ya.

 

[heferly]

I top off when partial mashing with tap from the city, never have any off flavors (not attributed to a runaway ferm temp)...I do treat with gypsum and CaCl when brewing hoppier beers though...city water on its own doesn't seem to get me the hop flavor I'm looking for...great for stouts, though!

 

[PapsD]

I've never had a problem when I lived in dupage or now in kane county. but it's been a while since I had to top off a batch.

 

[TyTanium]

Here's the City of Chicago water analysis:

http://www.cityofchicago.org/conten...ndreports/comprehensive_chemicalanalysis.html

 

[Flatspin]

Another northwest burbs here. Question about water treatment - if Chicago water is fairly soft and has a somewhat high level of chlorine, why add CaCl to your water? Wouldn't calcium carbonate be a better option?

 

[KarlHungus76]

Bucktown/Wicker Park....

 

[acidrain23]

Avondale here (just NW of Logan Square). Respect!

I do most of my shopping at the Brew and Grow on Kedzie. Its not the most amazing store out there but they have all of the basics covered. Hop selection is usually good too- last I checked plenty of Simcoe, Citra, and NZ hop varieties. I'm an avid gardener too, so it saves me another trip on that account.

Cheers Chicago peoples!

 

[Polboy]

southside here, buying stuff at bevart and brew and grow on morgan

 

[TyTanium]

Question about water treatment - if Chicago water is fairly soft and has a somewhat high level of chlorine, why add CaCl to your water? Wouldn't calcium carbonate be a better option?

Cl- (chloride) and Cl2 (chlorine gas) are totally different.

Cl2 is a poisonous green gas used as a disinfectant that may add chlorophenols to your beer...not good. Thankfully it evaporates out fairly quickly.

Cl is an ion (think salt - NaCl) that rounds, smooths and sweetens the beer. We have <20ppm of Chloride, which is low, so it's often desirable to boost this.

 

[Flatspin]

Cl- (chloride) and Cl2 (chlorine gas) are totally different.

Cl2 is a poisonous green gas used as a disinfectant that may add chlorophenols to your beer...not good. Thankfully it evaporates out fairly quickly.

Cl is an ion (think salt - NaCl) that rounds, smooths and sweetens the beer. We have <20ppm of Chloride, which is low, so it's often desirable to boost this.

Thanks for the quick reply. I'm glad I got this information today since I will be going out to pick up some supplies tonight anyways. I've been wondering about this for a while, just missed the obvious!

 

[wagz]

A bit off topic, but anyone going to illiana mayfest tomorrow? Doesn't seem to be a big beerfest but I figured I'd go...

 

[PilotsPheer]

Western 'burbs (Clarendon Hills) checking in..

So Who here does NOT add anything to their water? I am on two brews since moving to Chicago land.. first one is just ready now and is tasting good for green beer..

Western Burbs here, Downers Grove. I've been noticing a very slight off-flavor in my first 2 batches and have narrowed it down to either the water or poor temperature control. Regardless, they've been drinkable and most have enjoyed them!

Tomorrow I'm going to attempt my first 5 gal and partial grain. I'm going with distilled water just to be safe. I've been all extracts so far. I'd love to try some other local homebrews to learn more about what I'm lacking, and keep strong on what I'm doing right.

Cheers!

 

[rtb178]

Hi everyone,

Just starting out, living in lincoln square area. My first attempt (a witbier kit bought from Brew Camp) is now one week old, fermenting away in the bottling bucket (oops). Besides that snafu, I've already made a few other mistakes--my cooking times seemed off becuase I had trouble getting the liquid back to a boil, yeast didn't look great when I pitched it, I forgot to take an initial hydrometer reading--but I'm not going to let myself get too bothered. More than anything, I'm looking forward to trying another recipe. West Coast IPA anyone?

 

[heferly]

I'm not going to let myself get too bothered. More than anything, I'm looking forward to trying another recipe.

You're already ahead of the game!

 

[SpeedYellow]

Another Downers Grove brewer here. Been brewing since '93.

As for water, you absolutely have to filter Chicago water. It's nice and soft, but tastes nasty. My wife once made coffee with unfiltered water and I spotted it immediately. Yuck. The water is fine for light and amber beers. Beyond that, you need to work up some additions.

 

[Glynn]

Elgin, Il

 

[heferly]

Another Downers Grove brewer here. Been brewing since '93.

As for water, you absolutely have to filter Chicago water. It's nice and soft, but tastes nasty. My wife once made coffee with unfiltered water and I spotted it immediately. Yuck. The water is fine for light and amber beers. Beyond that, you need to work up some additions.

City water is good, in the city...I've had bad suburban water...a lot of times they treat it themselves after buying from chicago

 

[TyTanium]

Anyone going to Wheaton Ale Fest?

 

[SpeedYellow]

City water is good, in the city...I've had bad suburban water...a lot of times they treat it themselves after buying from chicago

I have to disagree. I lived in the city 10 years, just moved out here 2 yrs ago. The water is equally bad in the city as it is in the burbs using lake MI water. And the crazy part is the variability -- some days it tastes fine but other days it tastes and smells horrible, seemingly due to chemical additions.

The point is: brew without filtering and you've ruined your batch. BTDT.

 

[heferly]

The point is: brew without filtering and you've ruined your batch. BTDT.

No offense, but that's ludicrous...all my beers brewed with tap water would prove otherwise

 

[TyTanium]

There's a whole tread for Chicago city water, I think. It's all the same source in the greater Chicagoland area. The inland treatment plants just add Chlorine, as far as I know. The variation comes from the lake itself (rainfall, runoff, seasonal currents, algae bloom, etc). Still, aside from turbidity, the mineral content is remarkably consistent year round, IMO. And it's fairly soft...I've never needed to dilute, and only make minimal additions. It is, by law, loaded with Chlorine though, so the filtering or Campden is a good idea.

 

[ChrisTags]

Northwest side

 

[SpeedYellow]

No offense, but that's ludicrous...all my beers brewed with tap water would prove otherwise

No offense, but if you think chicago tap water is consistently good unfiltered, then your sense of taste is ludicrous.

 

[flanneltrees804]

No offense, but if you think chicago tap water is consistently good unfiltered, then your sense of taste is ludicrous.

I tend to agree. We use a single stage, 5 micron filter and I can taste and smell the difference between tap and filtered.

 

[heferly]

i'm not that interested in how you think the water tastes, to each their own...but to say this definitively, "brew without filtering and you've ruined your batch", is still ludicrous

 

[mux]

You guys are nuts! Chicago water is great.

 

[flanneltrees804]

i'm not that interested in how you think the water tastes, to each their own...but to say this definitively, "brew without filtering and you've ruined your batch", is still ludicrous

Are you wasting your time and ruining beer by brewing with unfiltered Chicago water? Absolutely not! Are flavors and aromas in your water something to take into consideration? Certainly! Will filtering your water and adding salts, acids and other things to hit a proper mash ph help considerably? You better believe it!

I've been brewing some good beer with unfiltered city water for a while now but do I notice a difference when I treat the water? Yep. But no, no one is "ruining" anything.

 

[Sippin37]

Agreed. The water tastes great to me. But you can definitely make better beer by treating the water to match the appropriate style.

 

[ChrisTags]

Isn't it easier to just buy bottles of distilled water and be done with it?

 

[TyTanium]

Isn't it easier to just buy bottles of distilled water and be done with it?

I think turning on the faucet is easier.