Water softened beer

[Alexuk10]

I wonder if anybody out there can help me. My wife wants us to have a water softener installed. At first I thought "great idea" then I though , hang , what will that do do my lovely beer. It would be extremely dificult to get a supply of non softened water up to my shed. Can anyone out ther enlighten me

Many thanks

 

[TheMumbler]

I don't know where a softner fits into your system but could you have a tap that pulls off water before it hits the softner? Then you could have the best of both worlds. I suppose that might be totally impractical for getting it to your shed.

Different water will change things as far as I know. My water is pretty soft (CaCO3 16.5 ppm last brew) and I'm happy enough with my beer, you may have a more refined palate. Not everybody subscribes to the ideal profiles, I think Aleman has talked about this somewhere on thbf. You can treat it of course.

Otherwise, brew pilsner and other beers that benefit from soft water?

I'm not any kind of an expert on water for brewing though so I might be wrong.

 

[Alexuk10]

Thanks Mumbler. At the mo my beer tastes just fine but Im unsure that if I introduce the softener which is in effect salt then that might influence the flavour of my beer. I suppose its no different to enjoying my other favourite delicasy, pork scratchings along with my freshly made beer. Its a big decision. The wife might be happy with the scum free shower but Id rather have a salt free beer

 

[Wolverine]

the water regs State that you should have at least one tap usually the kitchen sink not running through the softener for drinking water the Installer will know this so just fill your fermenter up from the sink

 

[TheMumbler]

tbh I'm totally in the dark about water softners, the water here is soft naturally. Does the softner add salt which precipitates out with calcium rhen? Or does it stay in the water? Seems like it wouldn't be very healthy if it is loading your water with salt (as in NaCl).

I guess you could always get some water analysis from Murphy and sons after you get it done, I think it is still £15 but by then you would have the softner in.

Probably best to wait for somebody with more know how than me to chip in.

 

[TheMumbler]

the water regs State that you should have at least one tap usually the kitchen sink not running through the softener for drinking water the Installer will know this so just fill your fermenter up from the sink

there you go :)

 

[Aleman]

Hardness is the amount of calcium and magnesium ions in the water

Generally water softeners replace calcium and Magnesium ions in the incoming water with twice the level of sodium ions in the treated water.

For brewing we need calcium and magnesium and do not need sodium . . .Therefore . . . WHOle House Water Softener = Bad For Brewing

Although it should be fitted with a seperate unsoftened water tap . . . after all if you have a hardness level of around 200 ppm . . .you will have 400ppm of sodium after treatment . . .anyone you know on a low sodium diet??? :shock: :shock: . . . . Or high blood pressure ?

 

[Alexuk10]

Thanks Aleman and to all the others. Good advice as always. Looks like a major plumbing job to get the untreated water up to the old shed but hey ho such is life. For the record I converted my shed into a bar and Im in the process of completing the shed extension which will be the brewery. My next project is to build a 50 litre shiny brewery. I have bought the three steel insulated vessels. I will probably be bothering you for some advise on how to make the whole thing work next

Thanks again :