Rain Water

[Rick_UK]

Hi Chaps

After seeing my new 20G water butt fill up in a matter of days with rain water captured from my garage roof I wondered if there would be any value in using it for brewing? I like the idea that it will not contain any chemicals added by the utility industry and is as natural water source as I can imagine.

Has anyone tried this and what are your thoughts?

Rick

[floydmeddler]

This guy does it: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MnM5w-Tod9Y

However, I'd be worried about the crap it drags in from the atmosphere on the way down: car exhaust fumes, fumes from factory chimneys etc.

I like the idea of pumping it through a wort chiller after the boil.

[Jim]

Yep, I tried it years ago. The batch smelled and tasted like a car exhaust - I had to throw it away.

Maybe if you live out in the country where there's no pollution it might work.

[Dennis King]

Yep, I tried it years ago. The batch smelled and tasted like a car exhaust - I had to throw it away.

Maybe if you live out in the country where there's no pollution it might work.

No chance around here then

[boingy]

I'm thinking of the rain we had yesterday that turned a nice gleaming black car into one that looked like it had been washed in filthy dish water.

And I live out in the country....

[GrowlingDogBeer]

I think I'd be more worried about the amount of birds that had crapped on your garage roof prior to it raining

[Rick_UK]

I'm getting the feeling this is a bad idea! However, having seen the inside of utility mains pipes and watched wildlife crap freely into local reserviours, not to mention dead sheep lying in feeder streams! I would question if its any worse than tap water, especially if filtered first and the boil will obviously kill any nasties.

I suppose there's only one way to find out!

[MattK]

They do clean it before they put it in the pipes, you know!

[Rick_UK]

They do clean it before they put it in the pipes, you know!

Have you seen the inside of water main pipes?! Not a pretty sight

[floydmeddler]

RIck, are you going to give it a try?

[Rick_UK]

Floyd, I am going to filter some, boil it then taste it. If it tastes good i'll do my next batch with it in a few weeks and report back. Watch this space...

[gregorach]

One thing to watch for with rain water is that it's very soft indeed, so you'll need to add all your salts back.

[floydmeddler]

Floyd, I am going to filter some, boil it then taste it. If it tastes good i'll do my next batch with it in a few weeks and report back. Watch this space...

Cool! Will you be treating it like gregorach suggests?

[Rick_UK]

Cool! Will you be treating it like gregorach suggests?

My tap water is very soft so i'll likely use my usual quantities of salts. Providing the water doesn't taste of diesel fumes and bird shite, obviously!

[BarnsleyBrewer]

Yep, I tried it years ago. The batch smelled and tasted like a car exhaust - I had to throw it away.

Maybe if you live out in the country where there's no pollution it might work.

No chance around here then

Same here.....