Newb question

[michrich]

I have emailed Yorkshire water to find out what my total alkalinity is in terms of caco3 and have also found a report from 2007 to input all the other figures into Graham's calculator, but what is CRS treatment.

I know this is probably a really stupid question but any help would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks

[michrich]

Carbonate reducing solution. Doh.

[michrich]

Thanks Chris. Because I have to ferment in the garage I have got a chest freezer/tube heater combo set up and so try to fit 2 brews in over the course of 1 weekend so I can keep the freezer full. I use a 23l brew kettle and ferment in the 23l plastic buckets so how much water should I get ready?

To keep things simple should I just treat 23l for 1 brewing session and this will be the water for the mash and sparging or should I treat more? I was thinking I could treat it in empty fermenters for a full weekend and then just use it as I needed it.

Still not heard back from Yorkshire water on the email and it's been over a week now. I think a phone call might be in order but from what I have read on here some water companies seem a bit tight about releasing that sort of information.

Mike

[michrich]

Sorry, another probably obvious question but if I follow Graham's calculator and treat my water should the ph then be what it should be or do I need to adjust for that too?

[Graham]

Sorry, another probably obvious question but if I follow Graham's calculator and treat my water should the ph then be what it should be or do I need to adjust for that too?

If your water is treated appropriately your mash pH should be pretty close; that is mostly what it is all about. The calculator will not necessarily make your mash pH spot on but it should be close enough for it not to matter. If, after treatment, it is not where you want it to be, then next time modify your water treatment slightly. I am guilty, because of the calculator and because of my posts on here, of making water treatment seem more critical than it really is. It is important (some people on here have transformed their beers by water treatment), but it is not critical and no great degree of precision is required. I have no idea of your brewing experience, or what your tap water is like, but it is not worth losing too much sleep over if you are new to this lark. Depending upon what your tap water is like, it may need minimal or even no treatment at all.

Anyway, in answer to your question, after water treatment there are normally no other adjustments required. Everything automatically takes care of itself.

[michrich]

Thanks Graham. I am fairly new to brewing and I think I am probably over analysing things, but am trying to get things right from the start.

Mike