Sodium Bicarbonate

[simple one]

Now I have seen people use this in their water treatment, I assume (probably wrongly) it is Na(2CO3). I have also seen people use precipitated chalk (CaCO3).

Ideally I would use chalk as I am low on Calcium in my water, but I can't get hold of any. So........

Can I use a balance of Sodium Bicarbonate and Gypsum, to replace the use of Chalk?

Edit: Now after some research I realise it's NaHCO3.

[HighHops]

People generally want low sodium stuff these days as it can affect your blood pressure. Calcium carbonate is available on thebay, summink todo with tortoises strangely enuff! I bought some and have used it in stouts, but tend to use calcium chloride instead and balance with gypsum. The key is the chloride/sulphate ratio. It should be about 2 with darker beers and more calcium chloride has really improved my stouts.

[gregorach]

Yeah, but depending on your water, you may need to increase the alkalinity for beers with large amounts of dark malts in order to get the mash pH right. When people use sodium bicarbonate or calcium carbonate, it's usually because they're after the carbonate to increase their alkalinity, as there are much easier ways to add calcium or sodium.

[simple one]

I think I'll re-qualify my question.

I have a residual alkalinity of 30 ppm in my water as CaCO3.

I want my starting alkalinity of my bitters around 40-50 ppm, because I believe that that will give my bitters a higher pH, which I find tastes better.
Now considering my water is low on Calcium. Is adding all of the Gypsum going to bring my alkalinity down below the 30ppm starting alkalinity and therefore my final beer pH down? Will adding a touch of Sodium Bicarbonate bring it back up?

Will I taste 1-2g of sodium bircarb in 25L of beer?

[gregorach]

Good question.

[Jim]

I'm sure Aleman will be along to give the definitive answer, but imo calcium chloride is the best way to add calcium to your water for the simple reason that you can dissolve it - you can't with chalk (calcium carbonate) as it's insoluble.

[simple one]

I have no problems with Gypsum dissolving. I just have a drama with the thought that as I add more calcium, I lower an already low alkalinity.

Will adding Gypsum be a problem with a alkalinity of 30ppm?

If it is a problem I am looking to balance that out with the Sodium Bicarbonate.

[Jim]

I have no problems with Gypsum dissolving........

Gypsum is fine; its calcium carbonate that won't dissolve in water (unless you add it to the mash, when the acidity helps it dissolve).

I used calcium (edit - I meant sodium of course) bicarbonate in one brew for the same reason as you, and I thought I could taste it in the beer (though some people don't seem to be able to).

[simple one]

Jim, did you use it in a pale ale/bitter or did you use it in a darker beer?

Also does anyone think that a soft water ever needs an increase in alkalinity to brew a pale ale?

[Jim]

Jim, did you use it in a pale ale/bitter or did you use it in a darker beer? ....

It was in a bitter (I have quite soft water, so my mash ph tends to be on the low side).

[simple one]

That's exactly the position I am in Jim. Even bitters (especially the darker ones) need a touch of some sort of "carbonate" to keep them in the middle of that bracket.

[Graham]

If you are sure that the 30ppm of alkalinity is accurate, then you should be able to get away without increasing your alkalinity, for bitters at least. You would not want much less than 30ppm though.

To increase your alkalinity by 10ppm, you need to add 16.8 mg/litre of sodium bicarbonate. Alkalinity is expressed as CaC03. You will not be able to taste the 4.49mg/l of sodium that it will also add. Obviously you are going to need to double that for the 20ppm increase that you are looking for.

Then you will need to get somewhere around 140ppm of calcium into the water using gypsum or calcium chloride; mostly gypsum for a bitter. I would suggest.

[simple one]

Fantastic. Cheers Graham, just in time as I have just got a mash on.

[greenxpaddy]

Hi Graham

Your water treatment calc specifies chalk. If you wanted to try bicarb is it a simple gram for gram replacement?

Thanks