Search found 20 matches

by chrisr
Fri Jan 27, 2023 5:26 pm
Forum: Grain Brewing
Topic: Advice on spectacularly bad mash conversion
Replies: 13
Views: 3090

Re: Advice on spectacularly bad mash conversion

@Eric No, I don't target RA, I target the pH. The RA is whatever it is to get the pH in the right range. I intended the pH to be about 5.35 for this mash. I agree with you on the calcium. Normally I would have gone higher, but the gist of Googling 'saison water chemistry' was to go lower on all the ...
by chrisr
Wed Jan 25, 2023 2:05 pm
Forum: Grain Brewing
Topic: Advice on spectacularly bad mash conversion
Replies: 13
Views: 3090

Re: Advice on spectacularly bad mash conversion

Thank you all for the responses. Several things to think about there. RA = residual alkalinity I did used to fly sparge, but kept getting low efficiency, even though I took about 2 hours to do the sparge. I switched to batch sparging, and got much better results. The RIMS system I made myself, with ...
by chrisr
Tue Jan 24, 2023 7:14 pm
Forum: Grain Brewing
Topic: Advice on spectacularly bad mash conversion
Replies: 13
Views: 3090

Re: Advice on spectacularly bad mash conversion

@Jim, it was a Malt Miller kit, all the grist, ready to mash, in a bag, so no. That is a possibility, but I've never had dodgy ingredients from MM before. I'm open to all suggestions though. @Mashbag, I'm in the north midlands, the water is 'municipal' water, quite drinkable, soft, the source is sur...
by chrisr
Tue Jan 24, 2023 2:43 pm
Forum: Grain Brewing
Topic: Advice on spectacularly bad mash conversion
Replies: 13
Views: 3090

Advice on spectacularly bad mash conversion

I’ve just brewed a saison (actually, Malt Miller’s Dupont). The outcome was a staggeringly low mash conversion: 47%. The result was 6 litres less saison than expected. Any suggestions as to what could produce such a pathetic conversion? It was all grain, all the grist mashed together, at 63C, in a R...
by chrisr
Tue Jan 29, 2019 8:39 pm
Forum: Brewing Liquor
Topic: Sudden problems predicting mash pH
Replies: 34
Views: 13208

Re: Sudden problems predicting mash pH

Brewed again yesterday. Predicted ph 5.5 - measured 5.52.

I hope this 'winning' streak continues...
by chrisr
Tue Jan 15, 2019 7:44 pm
Forum: Brewing Liquor
Topic: Sudden problems predicting mash pH
Replies: 34
Views: 13208

Re: Sudden problems predicting mash pH

Congratulations! But I hate mysteries like these! I want to know what's going off. My 'raw' water is very soft and has low mineral levels so I had added Calcium Sulphate and Calcium Chloride. Calcium was predicted at 157ppm. I don't think I've ever brewed with less than 100ppm Calcium.. I have a RIM...
by chrisr
Mon Jan 14, 2019 8:09 pm
Forum: Brewing Liquor
Topic: Sudden problems predicting mash pH
Replies: 34
Views: 13208

Re: Sudden problems predicting mash pH

Well, I would have preferred it a bit lower, for a such a pale brew.

It's not a major worry. I just wanted to know if anyone had any explanation why the water calculators went from predicting the pH really well, to being so far out.
by chrisr
Sun Jan 13, 2019 12:50 pm
Forum: Brewing Liquor
Topic: Sudden problems predicting mash pH
Replies: 34
Views: 13208

Re: Sudden problems predicting mash pH

Today's brew: all pale malts, so no complications. Brun Water predicted pH5.36. pH measured at room temperature, at both 10 and 15 mins was 5.59. Meter recalibrated before measurements and checked again afterwards. At the end of the mash (75mins), pH5.51.
by chrisr
Sat Jan 12, 2019 8:16 pm
Forum: Brewing Liquor
Topic: Sudden problems predicting mash pH
Replies: 34
Views: 13208

Re: Sudden problems predicting mash pH

I'm brewing tomorrow, an APA, so no dark malts. Used Bru'n Water to setup the water, double-checked it. We'll see what happens...

I'll sample more than one time, this time.
by chrisr
Sat Jan 12, 2019 5:44 pm
Forum: Brewing Liquor
Topic: Sudden problems predicting mash pH
Replies: 34
Views: 13208

Re: Sudden problems predicting mash pH

Well, the Salifert test (at double precision) gave the same result for alkaninity I was already working with: 12 mg/L CaCO3.
by chrisr
Tue Jan 08, 2019 6:52 pm
Forum: Brewing Liquor
Topic: Sudden problems predicting mash pH
Replies: 34
Views: 13208

Re: Sudden problems predicting mash pH

So what does they actually mean when I read (for example): "In particular we want to keep the measured pH of our mash in the 5.2-5.5 range with a preference towards the lower end (5.2)."? What 'measured pH' are they referring to? You are saying the time the measurement is taken will influence the re...
by chrisr
Sat Jan 05, 2019 3:41 pm
Forum: Brewing Liquor
Topic: Sudden problems predicting mash pH
Replies: 34
Views: 13208

Re: Sudden problems predicting mash pH

TBH, I'm not getting this TDS thing. It's used it as a quick check just to test if the water composition has changed since last brew day? And all it is measuring is the total mineral content of the water? That would seem, to me, to be more a useful thing to do in a hard water area. Anyone any advice...
by chrisr
Sat Jan 05, 2019 12:18 pm
Forum: Brewing Liquor
Topic: Sudden problems predicting mash pH
Replies: 34
Views: 13208

Re: Sudden problems predicting mash pH

I've ordered a Salifert alkalinity kit. Eric, What does a TDS meter do for me, brewing-wise. I've just read up what it meaures, but how does that relate to brewing? (There's always something new to learn about brewing, isn't there?) Do you mean take the sample later on in the mash? At what time? I k...
by chrisr
Fri Jan 04, 2019 7:22 pm
Forum: Brewing Liquor
Topic: Sudden problems predicting mash pH
Replies: 34
Views: 13208

Re: Sudden problems predicting mash pH

See https://www.stwater.co.uk/my-supply/water-quality/check-my-water-quality/ and enter post code de45 1aa. The Murphy's analysis adds: Alkalinity 12mg/L CaCO3 Calcium 14mg/L Sulfate 20mg/L Chloride 14mg/L I tend to believe them, as we have very soft water, very low mineralisation. A campden tablet ...
by chrisr
Fri Jan 04, 2019 6:04 pm
Forum: Brewing Liquor
Topic: Sudden problems predicting mash pH
Replies: 34
Views: 13208

Re: Sudden problems predicting mash pH

Are you saying I shouldn't put any faith the Murphys analysis? It did pretty much match what Severn Trent said.

The old probe is getting on a bit. But I have new one, less than a month old. That gives the same readings as the old probe (once calibrated).