PH Strips

[far9410]

Hi, took mash ph today, after treating liquor according to Murphy and son instructions, mash ph was 4.6, aiming for about 5.2, are the strips reliable ( range 4.6 - 6.2) if so what should I do to improve this?

[mabrungard]

Paper pH strips are next to worthless for brewing use. The plastic ColorpHast strips are more reliable, but a calibrated pH meter is still the gold standard. Visit the section on pH at the following link. https://sites.google.com/site/brunwater/water-knowledge

[Matt12398]

It's also worth remembering that the pH scale is logarithmic so a small misjudgement on the colour reading coupled with the relative inaccuracy of pH strips means that the pH reading you decide upon being the measured pH of your mash could be miles out from what it actually is.

[far9410]

It's also worth remembering that the pH scale is logarithmic so a small misjudgement on the colour reading coupled with the relative inaccuracy of pH strips means that the pH reading you decide upon being the measured pH of your mash could be miles out from what it actually is.

So I might as well forget taking a reading in the first place!

[orlando]

Hi, took mash ph today, after treating liquor according to Murphy and son instructions, mash ph was 4.6, aiming for about 5.2, are the strips reliable ( range 4.6 - 6.2) if so what should I do to improve this?

I started off with some plastic strips and swear that I don't really believe I ever knew with anything remotely close to accurate what the pH of the mash was. I would also caution about using a cheap Chinese pH meter from eBay (been there ). I now have one from Voltcraft, and along with Martin's Brun water calculator have started to get some control over this area of brewing which, after sanitation and before pitching the right amount of healthy yeast kept at the right temp, is an absolute fundamental to brewing consistently good if not great beer.

[Dave S]

Hi, took mash ph today, after treating liquor according to Murphy and son instructions, mash ph was 4.6, aiming for about 5.2, are the strips reliable ( range 4.6 - 6.2) if so what should I do to improve this?

I started off with some plastic strips and swear that I don't really believe I ever knew with anything remotely close to accurate what the pH of the mash was. I would also caution about using a cheap Chinese pH meter from eBay (been there ). I now have one from Voltcraft, and along with Martin's Brun water calculator have started to get some control over this area of brewing which, after sanitation and before pitching the right amount of healthy yeast kept at the right temp, is an absolute fundamental to brewing consistently good if not great beer.

+1

[far9410]

Hi, took mash ph today, after treating liquor according to Murphy and son instructions, mash ph was 4.6, aiming for about 5.2, are the strips reliable ( range 4.6 - 6.2) if so what should I do to improve this?

I started off with some plastic strips and swear that I don't really believe I ever knew with anything remotely close to accurate what the pH of the mash was. I would also caution about using a cheap Chinese pH meter from eBay (been there ). I now have one from Voltcraft, and along with Martin's Brun water calculator have started to get some control over this area of brewing which, after sanitation and before pitching the right amount of healthy yeast kept at the right temp, is an absolute fundamental to brewing consistently good if not great beer.

OK sounds expensive, how much, where from? Cheers guys

[TC2642]

Found one here:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Voltcraft-PH-10 ... B003A646G0

Looks like one I'll have to save up for as well.

[orlando]

Found one here:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Voltcraft-PH-10 ... B003A646G0

Looks like one I'll have to save up for as well.

That's the kiddy. You need to also factor in some pH 4 & 7 solution for calibrating it and some distilled or deionised to "clean" the probe with between readings and calibration.

You also ought to take a look at the Brun' water calculator too. The section on water knowledge is the best I have seen so far.

[far9410]

Thanks for the info chaps, I've filed it, will check it out later, not quite ready for this yet

[orlando]

Thanks for the info chaps, I've filed it, will check it out later, not quite ready for this yet

To be honest, it is a struggle to come to terms with and there is of course a few quid involved too. But for anyone serious about getting to the next level with their beer it is as important as careful measurement of the other parameters like time, weight and temperature. It's one of those critical points in the brewing process where if you get it wrong at this point you just can't rescue it later.

[Dave S]

Found one here:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Voltcraft-PH-10 ... B003A646G0

Looks like one I'll have to save up for as well.

That's the kiddy. You need to also factor in some pH 4 & 7 solution for calibrating it and some distilled or deionised to "clean" the probe with between readings and calibration.

You also ought to take a look at the Brun' water calculator too. The section on water knowledge is the best I have seen so far.

Same as the one I've got - it's excellent. I'm using it right now.

[orlando]

Found one here:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Voltcraft-PH-10 ... B003A646G0

Looks like one I'll have to save up for as well.

That's the kiddy. You need to also factor in some pH 4 & 7 solution for calibrating it and some distilled or deionised to "clean" the probe with between readings and calibration.

You also ought to take a look at the Brun' water calculator too. The section on water knowledge is the best I have seen so far.

Same as the one I've got - it's excellent. I'm using it right now.

Tomorrow for me, and that's just reminded me, have to go and treat my water.

[Matt12398]

If you buy from Conrad directly rather than through Amazon you'll save yourself a couple of quid even factoring in the postage.

[orlando]

It's also worth remembering that the pH scale is logarithmic so a small misjudgement on the colour reading coupled with the relative inaccuracy of pH strips means that the pH reading you decide upon being the measured pH of your mash could be miles out from what it actually is.

Good point Matt, moreover calibrating and measuring the wort at the same temp is a good idea too. I have seen quite a variation in the readings if I'm a little lax. I have calibrated my pH meter to room temperature and allow the mash to cool to that before measuring too. These things are not particularly robust so you really have to look after them. If you do you might get away with replacing the probe once a year . One of the reasons I'm so keen on the Brun' water calculator is that if I can see that it is largely accurate in predicting the pH I may not have to use the meter so much.