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Author Topic: Pliny the Elder water profile  (Read 1453 times)

Offline Philip McCaugherty

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Pliny the Elder water profile
« on: January 11, 2022, 10:27:30 am »
Hi

Does anyone know what the water profile is for this beer? I have noticed some references to Mosher's 'Ideal Pale Ale' profile which has a huge sulphate amount of 350. Something I am struggling to get up to without adding too much Ca.

Thanks in advance
Phil
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Offline Bob357

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Re: Pliny the Elder water profile
« Reply #1 on: January 11, 2022, 11:14:30 am »
To increase Sulfate without adding Calcium, use Epsom Salt (MgSO4). I generally use equal amounts of Gypsum and Epsom Salt for higher Sulfate levels.
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Offline Philip McCaugherty

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Re: Pliny the Elder water profile
« Reply #2 on: January 11, 2022, 11:44:09 am »
To increase Sulfate without adding Calcium, use Epsom Salt (MgSO4). I generally use equal amounts of Gypsum and Epsom Salt for higher Sulfate levels.
Yeah but won't that increase the magnesium levels substantially? My baseline mg level is 9 and the Mosher profile calls for 18. I am fairly new to water chemistry. Does the mg level not play that significant a role in the overall profile?
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Offline fredthecat

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Re: Pliny the Elder water profile
« Reply #3 on: January 11, 2022, 12:41:42 pm »
To increase Sulfate without adding Calcium, use Epsom Salt (MgSO4). I generally use equal amounts of Gypsum and Epsom Salt for higher Sulfate levels.
Yeah but won't that increase the magnesium levels substantially? My baseline mg level is 9 and the Mosher profile calls for 18. I am fairly new to water chemistry. Does the mg level not play that significant a role in the overall profile?

good question, i am super cautious with muh MgSO4. i heard it can really be bad even over 30ppm

Offline Bob357

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Re: Pliny the Elder water profile
« Reply #4 on: January 11, 2022, 05:38:45 pm »
A gram of Epsom Salt dissolved in 5 gallons of water adds 5.2 ppm Magnesium and 20.6 ppm Sulfate. I often add 4 or 5 grams to the mash without any adverse effects. I usually don't do brewing salt additions post mash.
« Last Edit: January 11, 2022, 05:42:01 pm by Bob357 »
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Offline Philip McCaugherty

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Re: Pliny the Elder water profile
« Reply #5 on: January 12, 2022, 10:12:33 am »
A gram of Epsom Salt dissolved in 5 gallons of water adds 5.2 ppm Magnesium and 20.6 ppm Sulfate. I often add 4 or 5 grams to the mash without any adverse effects. I usually don't do brewing salt additions post mash.
I plan to have my tap water analysed to give me more accurate numbers. I have 5.7g of epsom addition that pushes my mg total to 29.1 ppm
Someone once told me that making my own beer was a great way to save money. What a load of shyte that was!

Offline denny

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Re: Pliny the Elder water profile
« Reply #6 on: January 12, 2022, 10:16:24 am »
A gram of Epsom Salt dissolved in 5 gallons of water adds 5.2 ppm Magnesium and 20.6 ppm Sulfate. I often add 4 or 5 grams to the mash without any adverse effects. I usually don't do brewing salt additions post mash.
I plan to have my tap water analysed to give me more accurate numbers. I have 5.7g of epsom addition that pushes my mg total to 29.1 ppm

Good idea. You probably shouldn't make any water additions until know your starting point.
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Offline hopfenundmalz

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Re: Pliny the Elder water profile
« Reply #7 on: January 12, 2022, 11:02:00 am »
A gram of Epsom Salt dissolved in 5 gallons of water adds 5.2 ppm Magnesium and 20.6 ppm Sulfate. I often add 4 or 5 grams to the mash without any adverse effects. I usually don't do brewing salt additions post mash.
I plan to have my tap water analysed to give me more accurate numbers. I have 5.7g of epsom addition that pushes my mg total to 29.1 ppm

Good idea. You probably shouldn't make any water additions until know your starting point.
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Offline fredthecat

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Re: Pliny the Elder water profile
« Reply #8 on: January 12, 2022, 12:17:47 pm »
A gram of Epsom Salt dissolved in 5 gallons of water adds 5.2 ppm Magnesium and 20.6 ppm Sulfate. I often add 4 or 5 grams to the mash without any adverse effects. I usually don't do brewing salt additions post mash.
I plan to have my tap water analysed to give me more accurate numbers. I have 5.7g of epsom addition that pushes my mg total to 29.1 ppm

i was confused about my tap water, so phoned the water treatment dept myself and they were happy/interested to send me the data re: homebrewing. i think i just phoned city hall offices and asked, and they linked me.

what does 5.7g of epsom salt look like flat on a tsp?

Offline ynotbrusum

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Re: Pliny the Elder water profile
« Reply #9 on: January 12, 2022, 01:07:02 pm »
A gram of Epsom Salt dissolved in 5 gallons of water adds 5.2 ppm Magnesium and 20.6 ppm Sulfate. I often add 4 or 5 grams to the mash without any adverse effects. I usually don't do brewing salt additions post mash.
I plan to have my tap water analysed to give me more accurate numbers. I have 5.7g of epsom addition that pushes my mg total to 29.1 ppm

i was confused about my tap water, so phoned the water treatment dept myself and they were happy/interested to send me the data re: homebrewing. i think i just phoned city hall offices and asked, and they linked me.

what does 5.7g of epsom salt look like flat on a tsp?

When I have used it, it looks white and grainy... :P
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Offline Philip McCaugherty

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Re: Pliny the Elder water profile
« Reply #10 on: January 13, 2022, 03:18:01 am »

i was confused about my tap water, so phoned the water treatment dept myself and they were happy/interested to send me the data re: homebrewing. i think i just phoned city hall offices and asked, and they linked me.

what does 5.7g of epsom salt look like flat on a tsp?
The stuff i have is semi see-through and I rarely use my spoons because I am trying to be so accurate, scales are needed. I might just tinker with the amounts to get them to suit spoon measurements though. I have had my doubts about the accuracy of my scales, even though they measure 0.1g.
« Last Edit: January 18, 2022, 11:37:21 pm by dbeechum »
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Offline fredthecat

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Re: Pliny the Elder water profile
« Reply #11 on: January 13, 2022, 09:26:21 am »


i was confused about my tap water, so phoned the water treatment dept myself and they were happy/interested to send me the data re: homebrewing. i think i just phoned city hall offices and asked, and they linked me.

what does 5.7g of epsom salt look like flat on a tsp?
The stuff i have is semi see-through and I rarely use my spoons because I am trying to be so accurate, scales are needed. I might just tinker with the amounts to get them to suit spoon measurements though. I have had my doubts about the accuracy of my scales, even though they measure 0.1g.

yeah, i asked because that is a weakpoint of mine, my scale goes to the gram, no decimal points, and i feel like its not exact to the individual gram but more like within 2 to 5 grams. so i'm keeping estimated weights in bru'n'water and writing "1/2 flat tsp" etc in my notes
« Last Edit: January 18, 2022, 11:37:38 pm by dbeechum »

Offline Cliffs

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Re: Pliny the Elder water profile
« Reply #12 on: January 14, 2022, 11:43:13 am »
I'm friends with a former brewer at Russian River. The water going into the brewery is quite soft and they add a remarkable amount of calcium sulfate, both in the mash and boil. I think 300ppm is a reasonable amount of sulfate to shoot for. He says they arent overly concerned with a high calcium content resulting from the mineral additions.

Offline Philip McCaugherty

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Re: Pliny the Elder water profile
« Reply #13 on: January 14, 2022, 12:04:08 pm »
I'm friends with a former brewer at Russian River. The water going into the brewery is quite soft and they add a remarkable amount of calcium sulfate, both in the mash and boil. I think 300ppm is a reasonable amount of sulfate to shoot for. He says they arent overly concerned with a high calcium content resulting from the mineral additions.
Awesome. Thanks for the top tip, mate.
Someone once told me that making my own beer was a great way to save money. What a load of shyte that was!

Offline Cliffs

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Re: Pliny the Elder water profile
« Reply #14 on: January 18, 2022, 10:48:32 am »
I'm friends with a former brewer at Russian River. The water going into the brewery is quite soft and they add a remarkable amount of calcium sulfate, both in the mash and boil. I think 300ppm is a reasonable amount of sulfate to shoot for. He says they arent overly concerned with a high calcium content resulting from the mineral additions.
Awesome. Thanks for the top tip, mate.

happy to help.