[trentm]

Dumb question but do water salts influence the aroma of malt and/or hops?

If so, which salts enhance malt aroma which enhance hop aroma?

[kramerog]

I don't think there is much direct effect of salts on aroma.  pH can influence the solubility of aromatic compounds, but changing pH probably has a stronger effect on flavor.

[hopfenundmalz]

I am in the camp that they don't influence aroma. The sulfates will give an enhanced bitterness that lingers. Chloride will give the malt a rounded sweeter character.

Though if you get enough sulfate in the beer it reminds me of wet drywall.

[erockrph]

I am in the camp that they don't influence aroma. The sulfates will give an enhanced bitterness that lingers. Chloride will give the malt a rounded sweeter character.

Though if you get enough sulfate in the beer it reminds me of wet drywall.

Too much sulfate can get a bit farty/eggy in the aroma to me. The one time I used 300ppm of sulfate in an ale I could pick it up in the nose.