Asda Smart Price or Tesco Value liquor!

[GBH]

Slightly Confused ...

Ok so Ive read a lot on here and Brupaks...

Im thinking of going with Mineral/Spring water as from what Ive read it seems ro be easier than treating tap water (buying an inline filter - the kitchen drinking one takes too long!) with CRS/DLS (but I may do this in future CaCO3 =234) Messing about reducing the Carbonates with acid then adding Calcium.

Am I right in assuming :

If I use Asda Smartprice Water that I only need to add 2 & 1/4 Teaspoon of Gypsum -
How do I do this ? Do I add some to the dry grains or all of it to the HLT (25L) and then to the mash tun ready for the mash etc?

If thats all I need to do then I will do that way as its easiest, I havent added anything to the last couple of brews but I want to try and 'tune' the water so the Hops and malt stand
out more!


Thanks!

[Aleman]

I add my mineral salts to the dry grist . . . .

[GBH]

Hi Aleman, is that Gypsum or DLS?

What do you use?

Ta

Just about to go to homebrew shop n get my treatments for next weeks TTL brew!

[Aleman]

I use gypsum and Calcium Chloride (the ingredients in DLS) so that I can adjust the Sulphate : Chloride ratio where I want it. . . . As my water is so soft . . . . its scared of fluffy bunnies . . . .my treatment is completely different to brewers such as yourself with water so hard John Prescott could walk on it. . . . .If you decide to use some low alkalinity water for most of your liquor then a 1/2 tsp of gypsum and a 1/2 tsp of calcium chloride will really fix any issues you might get . . . alternatively a tsp of DLS can be used . . . its your preference really

[GBH]

Thanks for the info guys..brewing tomorrow!(Sat 10th)

[bramswell]

i used the Asda smart price water with out adding any thing as i did not want to mess about trying to get the water right, as im new to brewing

the beer tastes great i get malt and hop flavours, i think i will keep using it as its easy and not realy that expensive.

[bramswell]

Asda smart price water now down to 12p for 2 lts, dont know how long for. got my stocks in today

[Scotty]

Asda smart price water now down to 12p for 2 lts, dont know how long for. got my stocks in today

I did on Sunday. Don't half get some funny looks from people, especially those with a trolley full of beer.

[MartialAnt]

I get 20 bottles at a time then put them all on the conveyor belt. 1 time she said "just pass me 1 bottle to scan". Sod that they need bagging. I like asking for carrier bags to put the bottles of water in. Then put 3 bottles max in each bag. Pisses em right off.

[Scotty]

I've just been again last night.

As a rule, is this water good enough for brewing without treatment? In other words, the lazy man way

[bramswell]

I've just been again last night.

As a rule, is this water good enough for brewing without treatment? In other words, the lazy man way

i belive so, i've never treated it, last brew was good so using it again, i have trouble getting my head round the treatment thingy

[boingy]

As a rule, is this water good enough for brewing without treatment? In other words, the lazy man way

The short answer (but fiddly way) is to split the batch and try it both ways and see if you can tell the difference.
Treating the water certainly has benefits. I treat mine (tap water) and it is not a big task once you have figured out the water analysis sheet from the water company. Whether those benefits matter to you is another thing. I'm not sure I would notice the difference in a side-by-side tasting but I take the view that it is an easy thing to do so I might as well do it. Treating my water for a 5 gallon brew costs about 15 pence.

I tend to think of some of these things like Hi-Fi. Some people insist on directional, oxygen-free speaker cables. Others just use nice thick mains cable.

Some of the brewers on this forum take their hobby to the nth-degree in their quest to perfect their brew. Others find a level at which they are happy and still brew bloody good beer. Neither approach is wrong. The big step up in quality is when you step up to AG brewing. After that, many of the improvements/tweaks are much less significant.

Whatever floats your boat!