Why does this have to be so confusing!?

[Cheshire Cat]

I’m guessing user error too
What sort of profile should I be targeting?
My water as it is works great for pale ales- I always get a good head on these and even nice lacing too all the way down the glass. I’m interested in a changing my water to better suit stouts/ dark ales

It’s not user error that’s just a statement trying to belittle you. Use the stout profile from Strange Steve that I sent you.

 

[Sadfield]

It’s not user error that’s just a statement trying to belittle you. Use the stout profile from Strange Steve that I sent you.

If you use SteveStrange's profile the other figures you may require are Na - 55ppm and Mg -1.5ppm, the later is already in your water. As per the Target Liquor here, it needs to balance in ions to physically exist.

 

[Monkhouse]

If you use SteveStrange's profile the other figures you may require are Na - 55ppm and Mg -1.5ppm, the later is already in your water. As per the Target Liquor here, it needs to balance in ions to physically exist.

View attachment 73772

Which calculator is that?

 

[Monkhouse]

How come bicarbonate of soda isn’t listed on this calculator?

 

[Brew_DD2]

I’m guessing user error too
What sort of profile should I be targeting?
My water as it is works great for pale ales- I always get a good head on these and even nice lacing too all the way down the glass. I’m interested in a changing my water to better suit stouts/ dark ales

Just try adding a few grams of bicarb manually until you see the total in the water fall into the target area for your selected profile. I think Brewfather tries to preserve pH first when you do automatic adjustments. Just have a wee fiddle with your additions until your happy you fall inside the guideline targets.

 

[Sadfield]

Which calculator is that?

https://www.jimsbeerkit.co.uk/water.html
By Graham Wheeler, who wrote this.

 

[Monkhouse]

I read somewhere that bicarbonate of soda should never be added to the strike water and only directly to the mash, is this true?

 

[Agentgonzo]

I read somewhere that bicarbonate of soda should never be added to the strike water and only directly to the mash, is this true?

Interesting. I don't see what difference it would make. But I'm no expert

 

[foxy]

How come bicarbonate of soda isn’t listed on this calculator?

The alkalinity is the calcium carbonate which is practically insoluble, so bi-carb is more suitable

I read somewhere that bicarbonate of soda should never be added to the strike water and only directly to the mash, is this true?

Probably the post I put up when you had bi-carb in your sparge water, it's fine in your mash.

 

[Monkhouse]

The alkalinity is the calcium carbonate which is practically insoluble, so bi-carb is more suitable

Is the bicarbonate a direct replacement?

 

[foxy]

Yes, calcium carbonate and bicarb will bring the pH back up again. You are using a calculator which allows you to enter the grist?

 

[Monkhouse]

The only one I’ve come across so far that you can enter the grist on is strange Steve’s?

 

[foxy]

The only one I’ve come across so far that you can enter the grist on is strange Steve’s?

I think most do, Beersmith, Brewers Friend, Brew Father, Bru'n water normally you would work on the water calculations after you have entered the grist.

 

[Monkhouse]

Ah yeah I tried Brewfather, really could not get my head around it. I need something more basic till I start to understand it more

 

[Cheshire Cat]

Stick with Steve’s when you have a better understanding then look at the others. I’ve only ever used Steve’s.

 

[Mash Monster]

Ah yeah I tried Brewfather, really could not get my head around it. I need something more basic till I start to understand it more

Have a look on YouTube there are a couple of good tutorials on using the water profiles in Brewfather They might help

 

[foxy]

Ah yeah I tried Brewfather, really could not get my head around it. I need something more basic till I start to understand it more

If it is that Kamikaze stout you are brewing, I just had a look at that grain bill again, it has 22% of crystal in it. I know it is in a kit and you cant adjust the grain bill but you could add 250g of a dextrine malt. That should go towards fixing your foam and retention.

 

[Monkhouse]

If it is that Kamikaze stout you are brewing, I just had a look at that grain bill again, it has 22% of crystal in it. I know it is in a kit and you cant adjust the grain bill but you could add 250g of a dextrine malt. That should go towards fixing your foam and retention.

Yeah it’s that one. I added 600g of oats including husks the last time I brewed it to help head retention (not sure if it’s worked yet I only bottled it yesterday).
Not heard of a dextrine malt b4 but will Google it

 

[Slid]

Metabisulfite in filtered water especially if you have chloramines.

If you live in the Pennines, you may be interested to know that Chloramine is NOT used by United Utilities.

 

[Monkhouse]

If you live in the Pennines, you may be interested to know that Chloramine is NOT used by United Utilities.

I live in carnforth, I don’t think united utilities use chloramine in the water here. Never had issues not using campden b4