Water for Kits

[waynevilla]

I make only lager kits. I've been reading old posts so I do not duplicate others and read a line "Of course it goes without saying that the water used should have been treated to remove chlorine"

None of the kits say to do this. Should I be doing something to the 20L approx that I add to my batch after mixing the sugars and kit with the 2/3 ltrs of boiling water to make the standard 23L.

 

[alanywiseman.]

Without treating the chlorine you can end up with a medicinal taste in the final beer. Add half a crushed campden tablet to the water about 30 mins before mixing up the wort and that will sort it.

 

[rpt]

But how does he add the tablet? When I did kits I used my bottling bucket to treat my water but I'm not sure how to do it if you don't have one though.

 

[Maffa]

But how does he add the tablet? When I did kits I used my bottling bucket to treat my water but I'm not sure how to do it if you don't have one though.

First time round I used an empty swing bin (heavily cleaned of course) to de-chlorinate. Second time round I just bought another fv.

 

[rosie]

I have just bottled a Muntons Connoisseurs Export pilsner,
My first brew ever - I sterilized the FV and boiled 23ltrs of water in the kettle and added them one after the other left overnight to cool then I pitched the yeast, I also popped some fuggles tea in there as part of the 23, I must say I could drink it now if it had a bit of fizz in it.

Boiling the water does get rid of chlorine and sterilizes the water.

 

[rosie]

Oh yes, if you contact your water supplier they will let you know if Flouride has been added to your water, I pay my bill to Welsh water who tell me they do not use Flouride, but unfortunately they don't actually supply my area, they took the trouble to ask the supplier on my behalf if they added Flouride -Glad to say they do not.

Flouride is a component in rat poison and a toxic by product of industry.

phone up your water supplier and ask the question.

http://fluoridealert.org/issues/health/

 

[rpt]

Boiling water will get rid of chlorine but not chloramine.

 

[Buster]

I pay the extra £5 and use 25litres Tesco Ashbeck Water. I live in a Thames water area and the water is quite hard so to me its worth it for a better pint .

 

[krazypara3165]

ive always used boiling water but i could not be bothered to wait for it to cool on the last two kits so ended up buying bottled water

 

[rpt]

There's nothing wrong with hard water for brewing beer. High alkalinity can cause problems in the mash but that doesn't matter if you are doing kits.

 

[Maffa]

There's nothing wrong with hard water for brewing beer. High alkalinity can cause problems in the mash but that doesn't matter if you are doing kits.

I live in TW area, used to use bottled water all the time but got fed up with the extra ££ and all the empty plastic. Use a campden tablet in 20 litres now and not had any issues (kit brewing).

 

[rosie]

Adding chemicals to get rid of chemicals seems controversial to me. :grin:

 

[rpt]

Adding chemicals to get rid of chemicals seems controversial to me. :grin:

It's a chemical reaction. They happen all the time in nature.