Planning to brew an IPA this week. Been trying to dial in my water procedures for an IPA. Here is my basic goal:
100% RO Water
Ca = 100-125
Sulfate = 250-300
Chloride = 25-50
Bicarb = <40
pH = 5.4
Problem I am trying to solve - I want to achieve mash pH of 5.4 without getting my Bicarbonate # too high, and without adding lime or chalk or anything like that. But, I also want to achieve the higher sulfate #'s that help an IPA.
Using B'run Water, 5 gallon mash water, I will have 6 gallons of sparge water treated. Collecting 8 gallons into my boil kettle. Plan is to treat mash and sparge water the same as far as initial salt additions.
Basically, if I use:
gypsum = 1gr/gallon
epsom = .2 gr/gallon
CaCl = .2 gr/gallon
I get:
Ca = 77
Mg = 5.2
Na = 8
Sulfate = 170
Chloride= 29
Bicarb = 16
pH = 5.38
These additions get me the pH I am looking for roughly (5.38). I was then just going to add the more mineral additions to the boil kettle.
Boil Kettle addition:
Gypsum = .6gr/gallon (4.8 grams for 8 gallons)
Epsom = .2 gr/gallon (1.6 grams for 8 gallons)
If my thinking (fiddling with B'run water profile) is correct, this should get me to boil kettle of:
Ca = 113
Mg = 10
Na = 8
Sulfate = 278
Chloride = 29
Bicarb = 16
Thoughts? Are there any major flaws in what I am thinking about doing? Am I missing something? Is there a better way to go about doing this? Thanks for any thoughts.