Mash pH and water treatment

[Dave S]

Hi Guys

I originally posted this in the Brewing Liquor forum, but as it's less frequently visited I've put it here:

This may be a daft question and probably is, well three questions really. I too am new to serious thinking on water treatment. Up 'til now I have blindly used Dave Line's recommendation of one teaspoon gypsum and half a teaspoon Epsom Salts for bitter/IPA. I see using Graham's calculator with my local water analysis that these quantities may be too low. I have read on other posts that some people add their salts a 100% to the mash and others split between mash and boil. My questions are:

1. If you put it all in the mash should the mash pH settle ideally on 5.2?
2. If you split them won't this upset the mash pH if 1. is true?
3. If you put it all in the mash, should your target liquor volume in G's calculator be mash liquor or total length? I suspect total length.

Thanks for any advice given.

[AdyG]

I'm also interested in water treatments. I have only done a couple of AG beers, but on the last one I boiled the water first and added Brupaks DLS before the mash, and before the boil. I didn't successful get a water analysis so I took a guess at average amounts required as a water treatment. My first brew had no water treatment at all and is perfectly drinkable, so I am using this as fine tuning to make my next brews even better.

Sorry I couldn't give a more accurate answer, but I will follow this thread eagerly for advice off more experienced brewers.

[RR22]

Ady,
put your post code in here for a water report http://www.stwater.co.uk/category/536

[Jim]

Have you had a look at the Water Treatmentsection of the Brewniversity? It's a good start for getting your head round both concepts and practical application.

[Dave S]

Have you had a look at the Water Treatmentsection of the Brewniversity? It's a good start for getting your head round both concepts and practical application.

I'll have a look at that. Thanks, Jim.

[AdyG]

Ady,
put your post code in here for a water report http://www.stwater.co.uk/category/536

Cheers Simon.... blimey not sure if I wanted to see how many chemicals are in my water supply... scarey!

[AdyG]

From the online water check my PH is about 7.3, so as I thought it's a bit too alkaline.

[DerbyshireNick]

Its not just starting PH of the water but what levels of things there are too. I have done maths and maths and achieved the "perfect answer" but in reality it has best come down to trial and error. I have next to no alkalinity and the maths have me using between 18 and 21g of gypsum in the mash depending on how much liquor I am using (21-23L batch). What I have found in reality though is I only needed about 15g. I got there through trial and error. It also depends on what grains you have in the mash. I have started trying to do specialty grain free mashes and by doing so I am getting a better feeling for what additions are needed. All I can say is you might be best just taking your ph and adjusting acordingly brew by brew.

[Dave S]

Have you had a look at the Water Treatmentsection of the Brewniversity? It's a good start for getting your head round both concepts and practical application.

I'll have a look at that. Thanks, Jim.

Jim, that was very informative. I think my understanding is a little clearer - we'll see.