Supermarket bought water

[GHW]

While we're on the subject, I had a bottle of the kernel brewery's cascade pale other day. It had the same mineral/chalky taste as my beer, which through familiarity I can now detect at about 1ppm. So I'm pretty sure it's caused by the water as I'm only a few miles as the crow flies from there.

Also, if it's good enough for the kernel...

 

[dad_of_jon]

London water is sh*te for making pale ales. I could get all into water chemistry/adjustment but I can't be arsed as it's not of that much interest to me.

So my plan is just to make Stouts, Porters and Milds which do suit London water.

However I do like the occasional bitter from time to time so I was wondering if any knows whether supermarket bought water is ok/good for bitters? I vaguely remember recommendations for Tescum Ashbek?

i use tesnos value and thats good for me but if not soft enough ashbeck is softer again, or do a 50/50 split for a mid price blend.

you could in theory do a mix of waters to better target your desired water profile:hmm:

 

[MyQul]

i use tesnos value and thats good for me but if not soft enough ashbeck is softer again, or do a 50/50 split for a mid price blend.

you could in theory do a mix of waters to better target your desired water profile:hmm:

Ive done this but you need a salifert alkalinity test kit so you know what the alkalinity of your mix of tap/bottled water ends up as

 

[dad_of_jon]

Ive done this but you need a salifert alkalinity test kit so you know what the alkalinity of your mix of tap/bottled water ends up as

my son says each PH is 10x stronger than the next so 1 liter of ph5 & 1 liter of ph6 doesn't make ph 5.5 as I would have assumed but more like ph5.95 (or something like that he's an expert on that stuff, so if I've not got this entirely correct it's my incorrect understanding of what he siad before it turned to blah, blah,blah.

Anyways I think you might be able to used something like this to calc it?

https://rechneronline.de/chemie-rechner/ph-dilution.php

 

[Bigcol49]

If I've not got this entirely correct it's my incorrect understanding of what he said before it turned to blah, blah,blah.

Hi!
Tables turned - with children it's usually you doing the talking and them hearing blah blah blah :lol:

 

[dad_of_jon]

Hi!
Tables turned - with children it's usually you doing the talking and them hearing blah blah blah :lol:

:-)

I'm ok with it cos if kids don't turn out smarter than their parents then the human race will devolve not evolve:-o

as he's a pharmacist and therefore studied chemistry to a high level I defer to him on all matters chemical :grin:

His cake making abilities have overtaken mine as well!

but brewing? - Never:lol:

 

[MyQul]

my son says each PH is 10x stronger than the next so 1 liter of ph5 & 1 liter of ph6 doesn't make ph 5.5 as I would have assumed but more like ph5.95 (or something like that he's an expert on that stuff, so if I've not got this entirely correct it's my incorrect understanding of what he siad before it turned to blah, blah,blah.

Anyways I think you might be able to used something like this to calc it?

https://rechneronline.de/chemie-rechner/ph-dilution.php

So far over my head its in orbit with the the mir space station :-?:lol:. I'll have to take your word for it.

When I had a go at using bottled water to dilute my tap water I just did 50/50 then used the salifert test kit to see what the alkalinity was. Then I did the same with 1/4 tap:3/4 bottled . Then the same again with 1/3 tap:2/3 bottled

 

[dad_of_jon]

So far over my head its in orbit with the the mir space station :-?:lol:. I'll have to take your word for it.

When I had a go at using bottled water to dilute my tap water I just did 50/50 then used the salifert test kit to see what the alkalinity was. Then I did the same with 1/4 tap:3/4 bottled . Then the same again with 1/3 tap:2/3 bottled

good approach :thumb: or rather than try the maths route....

http://www.supremefulvic.com/pHtesting.php ..

they have a more usable range of ph(.2/.3ph increments) than my ph1-14 strips which measure in increments of 1 ph.

 

[MyQul]

good approach :thumb: or rather than try the maths route....

http://www.supremefulvic.com/pHtesting.php ..

they have a more usable range of ph(.2/.3ph increments) than my ph1-14 strips which measure in increments of 1 ph.

Your not actually trying to measure the PH of your water but the how much bicarbonates and carbonates (known as alkalinity) are in your water. This will in turn efftect the PH of your mash.

 

[dad_of_jon]

Your not actually trying to measure the PH of your water but the how much bicarbonates and carbonates (known as alkalinity) are in your water. This will in turn efftect the PH of your mash.

don't know how i veered off course here...

must be my candi sugar levels are getting low. :whistle:

but if you mix 1 liter of 100ppm bicarb with 1 litre of 40ppm bicarb you'll have have 2 litres of water at 70ppm?

the ph scale thought works differently so you cant do the maths the same as above, ah heck, I need a beer :drink:

 

[MyQul]

don't know how i veered off course here...

must be my candi sugar levels are getting low. :whistle:

but if you mix 1 liter of 100ppm bicarb with 1 litre of 40ppm bicarb you'll have have 2 litres of water at 70ppm?

the ph scale thought works differently so you cant do the maths the same as above, ah heck, I need a beer :drink:

Errm, I'll have to take your word for it. This is all way above my mathematics level :-?

 

[cyderspace]

On my Ringwood brewery tour today they talked about Burtonising the water. (Because we're down south and there's half a pound of chalk per pint of water).
I take it that involves a lot of farting around with chemicals and stuff and it's probably not worth it? Easier to buy bottled water?

 

[dad_of_jon]

On my Ringwood brewery tour today they talked about Burtonising the water. (Because we're down south and there's half a pound of chalk per pint of water).
I take it that involves a lot of farting around with chemicals and stuff and it's probably not worth it? Easier to buy bottled water?

the 17p for 2 litres tesco value has a mineral profile that suits me. there are other waters that have less minerals again but they are quite a bit dearer. e.g tesco ashbeck