Starting Gravity

[cockerhoop]

Well, just to update, I added about a gallon of boiled water and 4 days in this is my gravity. It’s still bubbling away nicely.
Sample taste is good and lovely aroma.
Going to leave it a full 2 weeks. Can’t decide whether to move it off the trub into secondary fermenter. Will decide on whether to dry hop after 7 days. I’ve loads of hops at the moment, so might give it a massive dose of Mosaic!

 

[terrym]

According to @Gerryjo post you need 10-12 litres of water to get the gravity you want. I wouldn’t add tap water straight out of the tap. I might be tempted to use bottled water but never done it so can’t advise with confidence. @terrym might have some words of wisdom on this one?

Not 'words of widsdom' but I use mains tap water for brewing. The UK has the one of the most stringent set of rules for water purity in the world, so its effectively sterile, and can be used straight from the tap. Commercial brewers use it too although they will no doubt alter the water chemistry. And most kit brewers will use it I'll bet. However I now treat my tap water for brewing with a half a campden tab since the water has recently had a noticeable chlorine taste to it.
I can't see the point in using bottled water, unless your tap water tastes or smells unpleasant, or more likely you are an AG brewer and the water profile you want cannot be achieved with your tap water so Ashbeck or whatever is used instead.