Do i need to adjust ny water !? Cant read this report

[Mugatu78]

Sorry if this is a stupid thing to ask. Obviously really new to this. Had some issues with funny tasting brews a d got online water report from scottish water but it doesnt have all the figures to fill out the water calculator on here. Ie calcium alkalinity and couple other things. Is this the report im looking for or am i just not reading it correctly ? Im clueless here. Any help appreciated. Will post pics of report i habe. Thanks in advance

 

[Mugatu78]

View attachment 19373
Damn. Thats unreadable. Hmm

 

[Mugatu78]

Third time lucky. PDF

 

[strange-steve]

As you rightly point out this report doesn't have calcium or alkalinity values, which are the two most important values for water treatment purposes. You can test these for yourself using Salifert KH and Ca test kits, and until you know these values then there's no point in doing any water treatment other than half a Campden tablet to remove chlorine.

 

[Slid]

The report includes all the things that water companies check for and thus looks a bit long winded.
I would guess your water will be pretty soft and there is no real need to adjust it unless you want to brew a pale ale style with a lot of hops.

There are some useful ideas in the Water Treatment thread (in Grains, Hops Yeast & Water) here, which contains everything I know on the subject!

https://www.thehomebrewforum.co.uk/threads/beginners-guide-to-water-treatment.64822/

 

[terrym]

If you are doing kits, extract brews or possibly partial mashes there is no need to carry out water treatment. Its only needed for AG dependant upon what you are brewing and your analysis. You may however need to treat your mains water for chloramines irrespective of what method you use. And if your mains water smells or tastes a bit odd then that may carry forward to your brews.

 

[Drunkula]

Its only needed for AG dependant upon what you are brewing and your analysis.

Nah, you can adjust the sulphite and chloride levels to change the taste of kits to soften or dry them. Can't see many people doing it, mind, and your water would have to be pretty crappy to even consider it.

 

[terrym]

Nah, you can adjust the sulphite and chloride levels to change the taste of kits to soften or dry them. Can't see many people doing it, mind, and your water would have to be pretty crappy to even consider it.

Umm.
Probably shouldn't have said that.
We'll now get questions about how much sulphite or chloride to add to my kit, when it probably makes bugger all difference.

 

[Mugatu78]

Great thanks very much folks. I will look into if i can get these values or test myself. I do like hoppy ipas so mby worth looming into to get it right.
Thanks again appreciated

 

[Davvy]

Personally I would do nothing with Fife's water, if you were going for an IPA .
You are somewhat similar to me in Dumfries and Galloway - which is even softer - but I would do is a small batch without any treatment and then the next one with, and then see what you prefer.
If you bottle you can keep one brew to the next to try them side by side.

Regards,
David.

 

[Mugatu78]

So did a bit more digging and got other figures for calcultot on this forum. This is what i got. Just wondering would this make abig difference to my beer ? ..
Last question on this. Promise haha.

 

[lancon]

or if you go back on scottish water site then there is a Water Hardness Data button beside the enter your postcode here button

 

[Mugatu78]

As you rightly point out this report doesn't have calcium or alkalinity values, which are the two most important values for water treatment purposes. You can test these for yourself using Salifert KH and Ca test kits, and until you know these values then there's no point in doing any water treatment other than half a Campden tablet to remove chlorine.

Sorry but just wondered if you could have a look at this and comment wether this is a worth while adjustment. The values mean nothing to me as i have no point of reference. Just wonder if this would have a bic impact on beer. The one in pic was adjustments to brew an ipa

 

[Mugatu78]

View attachment 19425
Sorry but just wondered if you could have a look at this and comment wether this is a worth while adjustment. The values mean nothing to me as i have no point of reference. Just wonder if this would have a bic impact on beer. The one in pic was adjustments to brew an ipa

These were the values in report

 

[Mugatu78]

The report had min mean and max values i put in the mean values

 

[strange-steve]

OK first of all, am I right in saying your tap water has the following:
20ppm calcium
21ppm sulphate
6ppm chloride
66ppm alkalinity

Where did you get these values from?

 

[Mugatu78]

OK first of all, am I right in saying your tap water has the following:
20ppm calcium
21ppm sulphate
6ppm chloride
66ppm alkalinity

Where did you get these values from?

Yes i believe so. I pulled them from the scottish water report. I had to find the calcium and alkalinity in a diff datasheet on scottish water website as those values werent in the full report

 

[strange-steve]

Yes i believe so. I pulled them from the scottish water report. I had to find the calcium and alkalinity in a diff datasheet on scottish water website as those values werent in the full report

So assuming those figures are correct (I still recommend you check Ca+ and alkalinity for yourself) then you have your starting point.

Water treatment calculators can be very useful tools but the problem is that they often tend to confuse people and offer what to do without any understanding of the why.

Now water and mash chemistry are incredibly complex subjects, but from a practical perspective water treatment for brewing can be very simple. Remove chlorine, ensure sufficient calcium, and adjust the alkalinity to suit the beer.

Have a look at my beginners guide which explains how and why to do this, then you'll hopefully have a better understanding of the water calculator.

 

[Mugatu78]

Great thanks very much. I will read that asap. I also got a new book. John palmers how to brew. Seems to have a lot in there also.
Thanks again

 

[Mugatu78]

Your beginners guide is excellent a great help. Thanks.