Sourcing the water

[Jaoqua]

I've been reading several posts and I've seen bits about the water used, and now I'm confused.

1) Should I add 1/2 a Camden tablet to my water before adding it to the malt extract? If so, how's best to do this, as I would normally just run it in straight from the tap (which aeriates it nicely). Also, won't it pick up germs unless I treat it in a sanitized container (and the only other one I'd have is my barrel).
2) Should I filter the water? I have no in-line filter, but I do have a Brita jug. Similar question to above re keeping it germ-free.
3) I live quite close to Malvern, where spring water flows freely from the hillside. Is it worth going and getting 5 gallons of that, and if I do, should I boil it?
4) Should I Burtonize it. If so, how? I'm guessing crumbling a stick of teachers' chalk into it won't do.

Or should I just stick to freshly poured tap water?

[Jim]

Hi, you need to treat the water before adding any other ingredients. If you add malt extract to untreated chlorinated water it will instantly form compounds that taste like TCP.

I assume you're making a kit (since you posted in the kit forum!) which means that you will have to sanitise the vessel you use to treat the water.

Brita filters will remove some chlorine - it depends how bad your water is.

Don't try to burtonise your water without finding out what's in there to start with. You can often find info on your water suppliers website.

I'm not sure what's in malvern water (mineral-wise), but it would probably be OK to brew with - most bottled water is OK.

[Jaoqua]

Thanks for the info, Jim.

I am, indeed, using a kit (I've updated my Signature now) but it didn't mention water treatment of any kind. I was of the opinion the Muntons was one of the top kit makes, so I'm a bit surprised they'd neglect to mention something like that.

Anyway, when I mention the Malvern water I mean actually using it direct from the spring. There's a Cadbury Schweppes plant at the foot of the hills that does the bottling, but there's also a public spring where the water comes out of the hillside as a torrent. There's a car park there and there's a fairly constant trickle of locals who turn up with huge water bottles and fill up.

What I was wondering was whether if I did this what I needed to do to the water. I've drunk it straight out of the spring, but for brewing I wondered whether boiling might be advisable. What do breweries that have their own wells do?

Incidentally, the Malvern Hills Brewery is sited on the side of the hills and that does some beautiful beers. I don't know how they get and treat their water though.

[Russ]

Hi Jaoqua

I too don't live that far (Evesham) from the Malvern springs but decided against using the water:

a. It's a fair drive and it would time add to the brew day (I wouldn't want to store it for long)

b. I decided collecting was going to be a pain and didn't fancy standing in the queue with a 5 gallon fermentor .....

c. My mains tap water seems fine once treated with half a campden tablet and its a lot more convienient.

Let us know if you go for it

[stevezx7r]

I must be the only person who brews decent beer that has never needed to treat his water.

[Jim]

Thanks for the info, Jim.

I am, indeed, using a kit (I've updated my Signature now) but it didn't mention water treatment of any kind. I was of the opinion the Muntons was one of the top kit makes, so I'm a bit surprised they'd neglect to mention something like that.

Anyway, when I mention the Malvern water I mean actually using it direct from the spring. There's a Cadbury Schweppes plant at the foot of the hills that does the bottling, but there's also a public spring where the water comes out of the hillside as a torrent. There's a car park there and there's a fairly constant trickle of locals who turn up with huge water bottles and fill up.

What I was wondering was whether if I did this what I needed to do to the water. I've drunk it straight out of the spring, but for brewing I wondered whether boiling might be advisable. What do breweries that have their own wells do?

Incidentally, the Malvern Hills Brewery is sited on the side of the hills and that does some beautiful beers. I don't know how they get and treat their water though.

Yeah, you'll need to boil it first in that case, to be on the safe side.

Brewery treatment varies, depending on the water they have available, but boiling is the least practical treatment commercially, because of the energy costs. In the old days, I believe boiling the water before use was very common - the main benefit was to reduce hardness.

[espressomanfishing]

Hi,

I am picking this post up after a few months, but hey i've been away. I also live near Malvern (upton upon Severn) and use Malvern spring water for all my brews, without boiling & it makes great beer. We strerilise the containers before filling and are scrupulous with cleaning the gear before we get going but so far the results have been fantastic. Our last brew was Muntons premium gold smugglers ale. Bottled and conditioned for 3 months. Absolutely cracking!!! I have another fermenting at the moment (for christmas) and will get three more going this week, namely: Milestone Lions Pride / Brupaks colne Valley, and Woodfordes Admirals reserve. Its gonna be a VERY MERRY christmas!!!

[Jaoqua]

OK. I'll give it a go. SWMBO can drive and I'll hold the FV upright on the way home.

Nothing can go wrong!

[Jaoqua]

An aside: The Malvern Hills Brewery is actually on the side of one of the Malvern Hills and their beer is always excellent. I wonder whether they take their water straight from the hill or the tap.

[Aterlatus]

2) Should I filter the water? I have no in-line filter, but I do have a Brita jug. Similar question to above re keeping it germ-free.

I've done two brews using one of those jugs - never, ever, EVER again. Takes a good 6 hours to filter enough to fill an FV and the running back and forth drives you loopy.

Next time I'm off to tesco for the 70p 5 litre bottles!