"Food Grade" water treatment?

[chivelegs]

Is there any such thing? I ask because my allotment trading shed sells gypsum and Epsom Salts at a fraction of the cost of what any homebrew supplier could sell at. Literally pennies per lb. Would there be any harm in using this? They are in 25kg sacks and are normally used as fertiliser / soil improver.

[crafty john]

Is there any such thing? I ask because my allotment trading shed sells gypsum and Epsom Salts at a fraction of the cost of what any homebrew supplier could sell at. Literally pennies per lb. Would there be any harm in using this? They are in 25kg sacks and are normally used as fertiliser / soil improver.

They won't be food grade, only for soil improvement and fertilising which the plants take up and convert into goodness, I wouldn't bother if I where you.

[boingy]

Given the tiny cost per brew of the "proper" stuff it's probably not worth the risk.
But feel free to experiment and let us know if you survive...

[chivelegs]

Fair enough. But by the same token, the amount we use for water treatment is so minuscule in relation to other ingredients, is there any real risk of contaminating taste? I will give it a go I think as I have never used Epsom salts before. If I die, bury me in the bean patch!

[Eric]

If I die, bury me in the bean patch!

If it's any inspiration (consolation), when I last visited the local Vaux Brewery (closed 10 years or more since) the bag of gypsum by the mash tun was the same as you would buy from a builders merchant and it was pink, not white.

[boingy]

If I die, bury me in the bean patch!

If it's any inspiration (consolation), when I last visited the local Vaux Brewery (closed 10 years or more since) the bag of gypsum by the mash tun was the same as you would buy from a builders merchant and it was pink, not white.

How did their beans look?

[Eric]

If I die, bury me in the bean patch!

If it's any inspiration (consolation), when I last visited the local Vaux Brewery (closed 10 years or more since) the bag of gypsum by the mash tun was the same as you would buy from a builders merchant and it was pink, not white.

How did their beans look?

Not too good from this picture taken about a year since. Mind, I think the mash tun may have been where that chap is pointing.