Litmus and Iodine

[richardagutteridge]

: I know this may seem a stupid question from someone who has been brewing for more years than I care to state, but I have only been AG brewing for 3 years.

I came across these 2 hints but don't know what to do.

1 Use litmus paper for ph, OK, but what do I do if the ph is above or below the 5.5, ie what do I add etc.

2 And does the Iodine test really work i e one drop of Iodine in 2 tablespoons wort from mash, no change in colour then mash conversion is complete, blue or black colour continue mashing.

Do I need to do either?

Regards Richard G :drink:

 

[wezil]

Hi yes the iodine test does work, it reacts with any residual starch in the mash. As for the ph test litmus isn't that accurate (but probably close enough). As for adjusting I don't know about beer,(I only do kits/extract) but in wine you use potasium carbonate to lower and citric acid to raise. But I would wait for greater minds than mine to give a definitive answer. Hope this helps.

 

[richardagutteridge]

: Thanks wezil will wait to see if I get more replies :drink:

 

[Moley]

Bump.

I've received a PM from Richard asking me to take a look at this topic. As I'm the one who pushed him over to the dark side he seems to think I might know about pH and stuff like that, but he's wrong.

Anybody?

 

[wezil]

Quiet around here isn't it

 

[evanvine]

I far as I'm aware mash ph is down to water treatment, mine being very soft I need to add Gypsum and Epsom salts.
As regards the Iodine test, forget it, if you've mashed for an hour +, there won't be any starch left!

 

[pittsy]

But for someone like me doing step mashes and sacch rest only some 20 mins iodine test very useful :) ,

 

[richardagutteridge]

Bump.

I've received a PM from Richard asking me to take a look at this topic. As I'm the one who pushed him over to the dark side he seems to think I might know about pH and stuff like that, but he's wrong.

Anybody?

: Oh well never mind Moley I will have to try and work it out for myself, looks like it don't really matter as I have not had any replies about ph

However thanks for the replies I have had guys. :drink:

 

[dennisking]

I used to do an iodine test every brew and found in about 25 years only once it still had starch left so mash 1/2 hour longer, don't both any more. As for the PH you are best addressing that pre brew. Get a water report from your water supplier, I e-mail mine once a year and they are always helpful, put the results in the calculator top left of the page and it will tell you what you need to correct your water. A salifert test kit to test the alkalinity is also a good idea, one kit around £6 will do a lot of tests. I use a PH test pen and with these measures I am always within the required parameters.

 

[evanvine]

Oh well never mind Moley I will have to try and work it out for myself

Two of us have now mentioned water treatment, you really ought to listen Tricky!

 

[richardagutteridge]

Oh well never mind Moley I will have to try and work it out for myself

Two of us have now mentioned water treatment, you really ought to listen Tricky!

This is the last time I will use this forum, my name is Richard and I find some of the replies on this thread patronising. Moley I don't care for your tone.

ps Don't bother remmoving me from this forum I will remove myself.

 

[wezil]

Hey don't run away, stay and fight! But they are correct, the adjustment should be made in the water your going to brew with, as I don't think it will work after (or at least not without a lot of hassle). And I think I would ask myself am I going to notice the taste the PH adjustment makes in the in the resulting beer? (if your waters hard/****, you could try getting a 5gal container and try your local aquarium shop for R.O water (reverse osmosis, takes all the **** out but dosn't turn it into distilled water) It's not usually that expensive and you are getting pure water (even bottled water can't claim that)!! Kits to plumb into your mains are about £100. But they do waste a fair bit of water, which can be collected and used elsewhere,garden,toilet or even in a different brew if the extera minerals aren't a problem in it. Hope this helps :