[Rhoobarb]

My first was an APA for the reasons Denny mentioned.  It turned out very well.  IMO, your first AG is about getting the steps and your process down.  From there I tweaked things, figured out my water, etc.  Good luck!

[drunkenpuff]

OK, there's been soo many suggestions but overall is seems that an APA would be the way to go. I would like to try a clone of New Belg. 2 below.. I'm looking for a good recipe. I do actually have a copy of my water profile here it is:

Bicarbonate ppm 95 to 117
Calcium ppm 139 to 156
Chloride ppm 16 to 34
Conductivity μmhos/m 337 to 458
pH units 8.2 to 8.6
Magnesium ppm 3 to 10
Sodium ppm 23 to 32
Sulfate ppm 27 to 39
Total Alkalinity as CaCO3 ppm 95 to 119
Total Dissolved Solids ppm 197 to 265
Total Hardness as CaCO3 ppm 90 to 164
Total Hardness in Grains grains/gallon 5 to 10

[drunkenpuff]

From what I understand about water profiles, it would seem im destined to brew dark beers. I don't mind using RO for small batches..but i think it would tend to get expensive moving to bigger brews. Is there any other way to overcome krappy water?

[punatic]

I do actually have a copy of my water profile here it is:
Calcium ppm 139 to 156
Magnesium ppm 3 to 10
Total Dissolved Solids ppm 197 to 265
Total Hardness as CaCO3 ppm 90 to 164

Somebody made a booboo on your water analysis.

Total hardness is the sum of all of the divalent cation concentrations - expressed as calcium carbonate (CaCO3).  Divalent cations are calcium and magnesium, all other divalent cations exist in concentrations low enough to be considered insignificant.
 
It is not possible for total hardness expressed as CaCO3 to be less than the sum of the calcium and magnesium ion concentrations..

To determine total hardness:
the calcium ions are converted to CaCO3 by dividing the calcium ion concentration by 0.4008
the magnesium ions are converted to CaCO3 by dividing the magnesium ion concentration by 0.243

calcium = (139 to 156) / 0.4008 = 347 to 389 ppm as CaCO3
magnesium = (3 to 10) / 0.243 = 12 to 41 ppm as CaCO3
So total hardness = 359 to 430 ppm as CaCO3  = extremely hard water.

Even if the calcium and magnesium concentrations given in the analysis above are expressed as CaCO3, (not as the ions as stated) the total hardness range would be (139 + 3) to (156 + 10) or
142 to 166 ppm 
not 90 to 164 ppm

Also, the sum of the ion concentrations is greater than the total disolved solids concentration given.

I light of these mistakes I would take the analysis with a grain of salt (pun intended).

[drunkenpuff]

Hhhmmmmm...
 
 That came directly from the City of Fort Worth's yearly water report.. if you can't trust those guys.. then what?

[denny]

Hhhmmmmm...
 
 That came directly from the City of Fort Worth's yearly water report.. if you can't trust those guys.. then what?

Then trust Ward Labs...www.wardlab.com.  Get test W-6 for $16.50.