jpb
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- Joined
- Sep 6, 2013
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According to the water company my water profile is 'Very Soft'. So, when I brew lagers (I have tried Wilkos Cerveza & Betterbrew Czech Lager) they come out really nice, but when making IPA (Betterbrew, Best of British) they are not so good.
I use filtered tap water and the temperatures used for each were very similar - all a bit on the warm side during the recent hot weather. They were also made using the same equipment, in the same location. The only thing I can think of that could have an effect is the water, which as the subject says is very soft. Most posts I have read suggest that water hardness is only really an issue when making from grain, but could very soft water be affecting my kit beers?
I read a post somewhere that listed water hardness in various places known for brewing, with pilsen being the softest and Burton being the hardest so could this be a clue (accepting that kit 'lager' is really light ale as the wort isn't largered during fermentation).
Would adding gypsum to the brewing water help? If so how do I add it?
TIA
I use filtered tap water and the temperatures used for each were very similar - all a bit on the warm side during the recent hot weather. They were also made using the same equipment, in the same location. The only thing I can think of that could have an effect is the water, which as the subject says is very soft. Most posts I have read suggest that water hardness is only really an issue when making from grain, but could very soft water be affecting my kit beers?
I read a post somewhere that listed water hardness in various places known for brewing, with pilsen being the softest and Burton being the hardest so could this be a clue (accepting that kit 'lager' is really light ale as the wort isn't largered during fermentation).
Would adding gypsum to the brewing water help? If so how do I add it?
TIA
