Water treatment Cambridge area

[burwellbrewhouse]

HI all
Do any people living in the Cambridge area treat their water before brewing.
Do you remove both chlorine and carbonates,if so any tips would be great.
Thanks Adam

[kuma]

I'm in a different area from you on the cambs water website. I have made additions of campden, crs, gypsum, epsom and salt to my brews based on info gained from calling cams water and a water treatment calculator. Our total alkalinity is very high.

[raiderman]

I didn't used to but now I know otherwise"! Treating has improved my beer. I didn't bother before because the water here always seemed ok, no real smell so I couldn't be bothered. I am pretty untechnical anyway and needed help to get going but I haven't stopped.
i don't do anything fancy, some powdered camden tablet, then CRS treatment and some gypsum and epsom in the grist. I treat the sparge water with camden and 25% CRS - lower because the brewer from Cottenham advocates that approach.
I'm Shelford which is Cambrige Water South - they have different sources, so probably a different supply to you. If you down load the calculator from Jims you can find some, but not all of the info it needs from the Camb Water web site and by emailing them, certainly enough to make it worr

[burwellbrewhouse]

Thanks I will do a bit more searching before placing an order at H&g,I have camp tabs ,will get CRS and epsom.

Do you boil first or just use CRS.If I get a bit stuck I will be in toush again.Does anyone get together in this area,a couple of lessons in AG would be great ,I have done 3 so far ,one pale ale which is fine just needs more bittering,an Thec old Pec but has an aftertaste which I hope is to do with old choc malt and not treating the water,have also done a Charlie P bitter but forgot the whirfloc at the end ,sampling a few older brews and in the dark didnt help .

Thanks

[JonA]

I'm just over the border and with similar very high levels of alkalinity which you need to reduce. CRS is really the only practical way that I've found to deal with very high alkalinity.

[fisherman]

Adam have you tested your water for alkilinity. If not buy a Salifert test kit for alkilinity or buy a liquor test from the laboratory at www.murphyhomebrew.co.uk . If you use salifert test look at the brupacks site for use of CRS and DLS and use as they say and game over.
The best of luck

[Chicken Dipper]

Adam

I'm in Bassingbourn and have always used a basic water treatment of 2 x 5ml Gypsum in 25l of boiling water, which I then boil uncovered for 30 mins the evening before brewing, allowing it cool overnight. This is a very basic approach, but I've always had great results. Good luck! Chris

[126mark]

Just stumbled across this thread. I'm in the Cambridge area and have dabbled in water treatment, but it seems more trouble than its worth. I can't see any difference in by brews with or without treatment. Does anyone know what the professionals in the area do? I like to keep things as simple and natural as possible.

[raiderman]

Just stumbled across this thread. I'm in the Cambridge area and have dabbled in water treatment, but it seems more trouble than its worth. I can't see any difference in by brews with or without treatment. Does anyone know what the professionals in the area do? I like to keep things as simple and natural as possible.

I'm with you on keeping things simple, but having drunk with the guys from round here and gone over to CRC and some basic water treatment I confess to brewing better beers