[Indy574]

I'm getting some astringent off flavor in my beers.  Here is a pic of my millings.


-I think it looks ok, maybe a little too milled? I use BeerSmith brewing software along with a water adjusting software.
-I haven't physically checked the pH, but will get some litmus paper and check it next time.
-I just switched to all RO water, and the first batch I brewed with it came out bad, not associated with my astringency issue. (yeast issue)
-I batch sparge.
-The last beer was a Black IPA, which maybe I should add the dark grain later in the mash?

I'm sure I'm leaving something out but this is getting frustrating.

[Stevie]

Did you add salts back to the RO water?

Link is busted.

[Indy574]

Yes I did.

[denny]

How sure are you it's astringency?  FWIW, astringency is not a flavor.

[HoosierBrew]

Has it been only dark beers ?  You often have to raise pH with RO water ( no alkalinity) to avoid getting acrid, harsh character from dark malts in dark beers. Now's as good a time as any to download Brunwater and start getting a handle on pH. We can help - it's not as bad as it seems.

[Slade7077]

Can I use Bru n Water if I don't know my Bicarbonate count?

[HoosierBrew]

If you plan to use your tap water you'll need to know the water content, to be able to accurately enter the values into Brunwater. People often send off a sample to Ward Labs to get a reliable assessment. Lots of brewers here use all RO (reverse osmosis) water as a base, then add brewing salts and acid to hit target pH. I use all RO water.

[MDixon]

How sure are you it's astringency?  FWIW, astringency is not a flavor.

This^^^

If you can taste it, it isn't astringency!

[Slade7077]

Here is the info I have

Magnesium Hardness MG 11 ppm
Chloride as NaCl 19 ppm
Sulfate SO4 LO
Calcium as CaCO3 37 ppm
Total Hardness Low (as CaCO3) THL 48 ppm
ph 6.7

Can someone help me?  I live just north of Memphis,TN.  We have great drinking water.

[Indy574]

Not just dark beers, and I would say the level of astringency changes per brew. I realize it's not a flavor but it's that bitter after taste that doesn't belong in my brew.

[MDixon]

Then it isn't astringency. Astringency is a sensation. Sounds like a flavor issue.

[reverseapachemaster]

What salt additions are you making to the RO water? If it varies between batches then it's likely not the milling unless you change mill settings or use different mills for each batch. It's far more likely that you are not adjusting the water properly and getting varied ph between batches.

[The Beerery]

BIAB?

[denny]

How sure are you it's astringency?  FWIW, astringency is not a flavor.

This^^^

If you can taste it, it isn't astringency!

So many people either don't know this or ignore it, huh?

[denny]

Then it isn't astringency. Astringency is a sensation. Sounds like a flavor issue.

THIS^^^^^