Water!

[daveyk]

Hi All,
Due to a tip I picked up on this forum, I have always used 'el cheapo' bottled water for my kit brews. As i'm researching extract and AG brewing however, I'm finding advice that flies in the face of this... people are saying "just use tap water".

SO!!! What is everyone else doing?

I'd be interested in brewing a kit with tap water and if so, what treatments if any are people using? Boiling? Campden tablets?

For info I live in Durham so are blessed with quite soft water from the tap... suspect this might make a difference. I know there is an awful lot of stuff documented on water treatment for brewing but I think most of this is only applicable to the mashing process so I'm really keen to find info on KIT BREWING for now.

Ta,

Dave.

[TheMumbler]

I've used both plain tap water and water treated with a campden tablet and ended up with perfectly acceptable beer IMO. My water is very soft but you don't really need to worry about that if you are brewing kits as I understand it. I switched to using campden tablets as they are often recommended and aren't expensive. I think the first time I used a campden tablet it delayed onset of fermentation. I used a whole tablet then but haven't had that effect using a half.

[fractureman]

I always use tap water for my kit brews & never had a problem or strange tasting brew. I will keep using it as don't want to have the hassle of getting rid of all the plastic bottles

[Ditch]

Extremely interesting comment from Mumbler there, re: A tab' delaying fermentation. Not sure what I did the other night. But, I do seem to remember taking an executive decision about a C Tab. I'm sure I just used a whole one at some point. Either way, my Coopers Stout took every last one of 24 hours to kick off. Interesting .....

I don't know What the water's about, in my own tiny corner of Co. Leitrim. It's supplied by a local co operative and I personally know the guy who's job it is to sling the chlorine in. What can I say? If he manages our water anything like he manages his land? God help us! At least, using the industry standard half a crushed tab, I feel I'm covered, whether there's what ever amount of chlorine in there or not.

Hard or soft? No idea. Judging by what it's done to my guts, from day one? Babies bum! Patently obvious the local cattle all drink the same water as me, anyway

Now; I feel that's Quite enough information .....

[mysterio]

You should just be using pre-treated with a campden tab.

[dunc]

I just use tap water personally, Keighley water is as soft as it gets coming off gritstone moorland reservoirs, and hardly chlorinated so I don't bother with campden tablets and have never had medicinal beer. If in doubt check with yer water board.

[daveyk]

Hi Yall,

Thanks for the replys, just as I thought.... will give it a try with 1/2 capden tab.

Am I right in thinking to steralise a FV, fill with water, treat with tab..... for how long?

Then when brewing use it into the FV with the kit etc.

Dave

[scottmoss]

Hi Yall,

Thanks for the replys, just as I thought.... will give it a try with 1/2 capden tab.

Am I right in thinking to steralise a FV, fill with water, treat with tab..... for how long?

Then when brewing use it into the FV with the kit etc.

Dave

Hi,

If you leave the water within the FV for around 15-20 mins to steralise.

[OldSpeckledBadger]

Hi Yall,

??????

Am I right in thinking to steralise a FV, fill with water, treat with tab..... for how long?

The reaction is virtually instantaneous. The limiting factor is diffusion throughout the vessel. Put the crushed Campden tablet in when the vessel is about half full then the action of putting the rest of the water in will be enough to disperse it. It will be ready to use straight away.

[daveyk]

Hi Yall,

??????

Am I right in thinking to steralise a FV, fill with water, treat with tab..... for how long?

The reaction is virtually instantaneous. The limiting factor is diffusion throughout the vessel. Put the crushed Campden tablet in when the vessel is about half full then the action of putting the rest of the water in will be enough to disperse it. It will be ready to use straight away.

Thanks for that.... makes sense.

Dave.

PS. The 'Yall' was my attempt at sounding cool with an american twang!

[kippa7]

Just a beginner, but ive now brewed three kits. Muntons Pilsner, Old Smugglers & Winter Warmer ready for xmas.
In each i used bottled water from Tesco at 36p per litre (comes in 5L bottles too) - ive got no comparator, but my first tastes of Pilsner and Smugglers are awesome, so im happy with my choice.

Surely quality spring water, without Chlorine or Campden tabs would produce better tasting brews???

[daveyk]

Just a beginner, but ive now brewed three kits. Muntons Pilsner, Old Smugglers & Winter Warmer ready for xmas.
In each i used bottled water from Tesco at 36p per litre (comes in 5L bottles too) - ive got no comparator, but my first tastes of Pilsner and Smugglers are awesome, so im happy with my choice.

Surely quality spring water, without Chlorine or Campden tabs would produce better tasting brews???

Yes, thats what I thought for a long time but what I've read recently goes along the line of water being a little 'too clean' sometimes and some of the other minerals in tap water can add to the brew.

I know, I know, this theory flies in the face of everything a new brewer is told!

Dave.

[Ditch]

Looking back on all this; It makes me think about the 'ultra hip' people one see's about the place these days, carrying their silly little bottles of expensive water. It's all a very new phenomena. Life, as we know it, has existed for centuries without anyone bothering with shop bought bottles of water.

So too has brewing .....

[OldSpeckledBadger]

PS. The 'Yall' was my attempt at sounding cool with an american twang!

It just makes you sound thick. There's nothing "cool" about americans or americanisms.

[sonicated]

There's nothing "cool" about americans

Yes there is! On the road you can go through red lights when turning right. That's cool.