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Author Topic: My Water Report  (Read 3779 times)

Offline Poobah58

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My Water Report
« on: May 19, 2013, 08:20:32 am »
Not sure what it means yet but I'm reading up on it. I downloaded the Bru N Water spreadsheet and it shows my cation/anions ratio is .49 and should be lower. Am I misinterpreting my report or can this be possible? My next brew is an IPA. I'm going with the Pale Ale water profile. Is this a good start?

Starting Profile      ppm      
Ca         33   
Mg         2   
Na         8   
SO4         21   
Cl         0   
HCO3      76   

            
Hardness      91   (ppm as CaCO3)
Alkalinity      63   (ppm as CaCO3)
RA          38   
SO4/Cl      0.00   
« Last Edit: May 19, 2013, 08:22:03 am by poobah58 »
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Offline mabrungard

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Re: My Water Report
« Reply #1 on: May 19, 2013, 09:50:36 am »
Its not the ratio, its the difference in the cation and anion totals.  You are good to go.  That is a lightly mineralized water and it doesn't take much to throw the difference off. 
Martin B
Carmel, IN

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Foam Blowers of Indiana (FBI)

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Offline hopfenundmalz

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Re: My Water Report
« Reply #2 on: May 19, 2013, 10:22:38 am »
Not from the Midwest are you? That does look good for brewing, as Martin says.
Jeff Rankert
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Offline HoosierBrew

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Re: My Water Report
« Reply #3 on: May 19, 2013, 12:31:22 pm »
Not from the Midwest are you? That does look good for brewing, as Martin says.
No kidding.  Definitely not Indiana water. I'm envious.
Jon H.

Offline Poobah58

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Re: My Water Report
« Reply #4 on: May 19, 2013, 03:43:14 pm »
Thanks guys. A sand separator and 20 micron whole house filter helps... ;D I was originally going to install an RO filter but from what I can tell I might not need it. Seems I can add chemicalls to get most of the water profiles that I might use.
You can't drink all day if you don't start in the morning!

Offline brewmasternpb

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Re: My Water Report
« Reply #5 on: May 20, 2013, 11:17:39 pm »
0 Chloride?  It looks to me like you can brew great light colored beers, but you're going to have to do some additions to do anything dark or Malty.  Am I wrong?
Dave Malone
The Greater Denver Yeast Infection

Offline brewmasternpb

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Re: My Water Report
« Reply #6 on: May 20, 2013, 11:21:58 pm »
I should specify... the sulfate to chloride ratio makes it good for hoppy beers.
Dave Malone
The Greater Denver Yeast Infection

Offline Poobah58

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Re: My Water Report
« Reply #7 on: May 21, 2013, 05:58:46 am »
It's well water. I hope there's no chloride.  :)  I plan on picking a water profile each time I brew. It's going to be another learning curve. I can see my water is good for light beers. I actually thought is was no good for hoppy beers. Seems my sulfates (hardness?) are a bit low. Like I said earlier, I'm reading and learning...
You can't drink all day if you don't start in the morning!

Offline davidgzach

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Re: My Water Report
« Reply #8 on: May 21, 2013, 07:28:12 am »
Yes, use the Pale Ale profile and brew away.  You will probably want to get your sulfate up so the hops will pop.  Looks like Pilsen water!

Dave
Dave Zach

Offline hopfenundmalz

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Re: My Water Report
« Reply #9 on: May 21, 2013, 08:17:42 am »
Yes, use the Pale Ale profile and brew away.  You will probably want to get your sulfate up so the hops will pop.  Looks like Pilsen water!

Dave
It looks good, but not Pilsen good.
Jeff Rankert
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Offline mabrungard

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Re: My Water Report
« Reply #10 on: May 21, 2013, 08:49:16 am »
The ionic content is probably close enough that one could consider it pilsen like.  The bicarbonate would have to be neutralized, but the rest of the ion content is quite low.  That is not to say that a brewer should brew with it as-is. 

Do recognize that chloride is not the same as chlorine.  A well water would probably not have chlorine in it, but could easily have chloride.  I'm surprised not to see any chloride in this report, but its possible.  And since there is no chloride, the sulfate/chloride ratio is meaningless in this case.  Until the water has significant concentrations of both ions, their effect on flavor is negligible.  I recommend that the sulfate/chloride ratio is most applicable when the chloride concentration falls between 25 and 100 ppm. 
Martin B
Carmel, IN

BJCP National
Foam Blowers of Indiana (FBI)

Brewing Water Information at:
https://www.brunwater.com/

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Offline hopfenundmalz

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Re: My Water Report
« Reply #11 on: May 21, 2013, 11:30:03 am »
The HCO3 jumped out to me.

The higher Ca means he does not need to add, or add as much, so that's good.
« Last Edit: May 22, 2013, 06:56:09 am by hopfenundmalz »
Jeff Rankert
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Home-brewing, not just a hobby, it is a lifestyle!

Offline davidgzach

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Re: My Water Report
« Reply #12 on: May 22, 2013, 06:28:58 am »
The HCO3 jumped out to me.

That is a bit high......but will still make a fine BoPils.
Dave Zach