Water Treatment - Gypsum

[Granny]

Hi Everyone,

Apologies if this is a stupid question but I’m still learning the art of full grain brewing!

I ran the water treatment calculator on this website and it’s saying I need to add Gypsum and Epsom Salts. My silly question is where do I get these? I hear talk about AMS in the water and DWB in the mash, so am now a bit confused as to why this website says something different. Are they the same things just in different terminology? If someone could square that one away for me I’d be grateful. And please tell, where do I get Gypsum and Epsom Salts? Thanks all.
Yours truly,
Dumb Brewer

 

[An Ankoù]

Hi Granny,
Yes and no.
AMS is a mixture of acids designed to buffer the pH of your water and DWB is indeed a mixture of salts which will give you brewing liquor certain characteristics. You'll need to go onto Murphy and Sons' website to get the details of what to do, when and how much.
If your recipe calls for Calcium Sulphate and Magnesium Sulphate, you can order these from any homebrew supplier like the Malt Miller or Brew UK or the Homebrew Company. If you need them quickly you could probably get them from your local pharmacist, particularly if it's an old-school pharmacy and not a pharmacist in Tesco.
I should add that you need either one or the other. The AMS/PWB is one manufacturer's solution while the results from the homebrew calculator should give you much the same solution using generic ingredients.

 

[Granny]

Ah, brilliant! That’s clearer to me now, thank you. Just out of interest what do most home brewers use? Is there a homebrew standard, i.e. AMS/DWB or organic?

 

[Granny]

Is one easier to use than the other?

 

[foxbat]

Is one easier to use than the other?

If you're just getting started don't use either. Use phosphoric acid in the mash for pH correction and gypsum/calcium chloride/Epsom salts for water mineral adjustment. Might as well get it right first time...

 

[An Ankoù]

If you're just getting started don't use either. Use phosphoric acid in the mash for pH correction and gypsum/calcium chloride/Epsom salts for water mineral adjustment. Might as well get it right first time...

I agree with Foxbat. But Granny's still got to source her chemicals.
Actually, I have some reservations. Phosphoric acid has to be bought in from wherever, diluted to manageable strength and even then, small amounts used. It's not as straightforward as chucking a couple of teaspoons of CaSO4 into the mash tun.

 

[Brew_DD2]

I just get mine on eBay.

 

[Davvy]

Yes Fleabay is the route for me....
Put in "Food grade......" whatever you need...... and hay-presto ! All you need then is the magic of paypal !

 

[Granny]

Thanks guys. I’m a ‘him’ by the way. Surname is Grant, hence my ‘Granny’ nickname!

No doubt I’ll be back in the future with more questions but for now, thank you.

 

[foxbat]

75% Phosphoric acid from Geterbrewed: £3.96 for 250ml. Ready to use straight out of the bottle and supported by all the main water adjustment calculators: Brewer's friend, Beersmith, Brunwater. No side-effects on taste and no side-effects on your mineral profile.

 

[Granny]

You guys are fantastic, thank you. I have attached a screen shot of my water treatment results. So last question, where it says add CRS to the total water volume, do I still also use a Campden tablet as well as the CRS? And can I use AMS as the CRS. Only asking this as I acquired a small bottle of this with some second hand gear recently.

 

[chrisb8]

Yes, use half a campden tablet crushed up to remove chlorine from the tap water as well as any other additions. I always use ams as a direct replacement for crs - I'm sure from my research when beginning water treatment that they are interchangeable...

 

[Granny]

Many thanks chrisb8

 

[chrisb8]