Campden tablet addition

[Portreath]

I've noticed a few people add campden tabs to the sparge water. I use good old Cornish tap water, so would there be any benefit to be gained by adding campden to the water?

 

[chrisb8]

Campden tablets are usually used to remove the chlorine/chloramine from the water you brew with to remove any off flavours that may come from those being in the water. I collect the whole volume of water I brew with in a spare fermenter and treat the whole lot with half a campden tablet the night before brew day. I know others say it works within half an hour but this method works for me and allows me to treat the water with crs and any other additions required at the same time.

 

[terrym]

I've noticed a few people add campden tabs to the sparge water. I use good old Cornish tap water, so would there be any benefit to be gained by adding campden to the water?

If your water has traces of chlorine or more particularly chloramine it is advisable to pretreat you brewing water by addition of a campden table. Chloramine apparently has the capability of combining with some of the hop chemicals in the boil to give the beer a slight TCP taste. I use half a tab to treat about 25litres of water since I have noticed that my tap water taste has changed in recent months, and then leave it to sort itself out overnight although the reaction is apparently quite quick. However not all water companies use chloramine, but they are most likely to use chlorine in the UK. I suggest you do a taste and smell test on your tap water and if it doesn't feel right treat one batch and see if it makes any noticeable difference to your beer.

 

[Portreath]

Thanks for the feedback, so would i be right in thinking 1/2 a tablet for 30ltrs is about right?

 

[chrisb8]

I usually use around 25L of water and treat with half a campden tablet

 

[dillz2003]

If your beer tastes fine already without a campden tablet, then I think you have your answer.

 

[foxy]

Depends how far away from the dosing station you are and how fast the water is being used, the chlorine dissipates on the way to your tap if it is slow. If your water tastes fine don't worry, or if you do worry use half a campden tablet.

 

[The Baron]

Go with everything that has been said

 

[pilgrimhudd]

I don't live far from you and my water can taste very chlorine, however I keep forgetting to add a campden tablet to my latest beers so I'm not sure how much difference it makes yet. I have had problems with a tcp taste but I think I had an infection in the bottling bucket.