Hi chaps, i am getting together my kit to start All Grain, and would like some advice on my local water analisys, i have translated the online report and the PH is around 7.9 Chlorine is .20mg/lc12. What else am i looking for? The water is very hard here, so much so that we use softeners exept on the kitchen sink cold tap. I also have a local spring near by which locals use regulary for drinking water, but i dont know if anyone has any water quality reports of it.
Thanks for any pointers chaps!
STeve
French water quality
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EccentricDyslexic
Re: French water quality
Is there somewhere i can send a sample of the local spring water to for analysis? I just need to know what is in the local water in English and then i hopefuly will be able to work out if i need to treat it.
A google for water analysis for brewers dosent reveal many helpful pages.
cheers
steve
A google for water analysis for brewers dosent reveal many helpful pages.
cheers
steve
Re: French water quality
I am fairly sure that you can send water for analysis here: http://www.murphyandson.co.uk/BrewingAr ... sIndex.htm but i don't know what it costs.
You are looking for this stuff. Alkalinity, Sodium, Chloride, Sulphate, Calcium, Magnesium.
Top of your list should be to remove high levels of carbonates and reduce the alkalinity. It's a bit 'full-on' but if you take a look at the website above, it will explain why. There are simpler explanations on this forum and in Graham Wheelers book. You can test your alkalinity level with a salifert kit which is fairly cheap and then treat with acid (CRS is normal) or just boil all of your brewing liquor which will remove carbonates and lower the alkalinity to an acceptable level, then add some calcium in the form of Gypsum (calcium sulphate) or calcium chloride to your mash and boil. If you don't know your water stats, then it's best to stick with Gypsum for most beer types. Once again, the Murphy's website explains in detail the reasons for a decent level of calcium.
Once you know your alkalinity and can reduce it (assuming it's high) then your just about there as far as water treatment goes. Anything other than this treatment is really fine tuning your beers to a particular style or profile.
Personally, I would go with the tap water, but that's only because you know it's safe and i don't know if there are potential nasties in the spring water.
You are looking for this stuff. Alkalinity, Sodium, Chloride, Sulphate, Calcium, Magnesium.
Top of your list should be to remove high levels of carbonates and reduce the alkalinity. It's a bit 'full-on' but if you take a look at the website above, it will explain why. There are simpler explanations on this forum and in Graham Wheelers book. You can test your alkalinity level with a salifert kit which is fairly cheap and then treat with acid (CRS is normal) or just boil all of your brewing liquor which will remove carbonates and lower the alkalinity to an acceptable level, then add some calcium in the form of Gypsum (calcium sulphate) or calcium chloride to your mash and boil. If you don't know your water stats, then it's best to stick with Gypsum for most beer types. Once again, the Murphy's website explains in detail the reasons for a decent level of calcium.
Once you know your alkalinity and can reduce it (assuming it's high) then your just about there as far as water treatment goes. Anything other than this treatment is really fine tuning your beers to a particular style or profile.
Personally, I would go with the tap water, but that's only because you know it's safe and i don't know if there are potential nasties in the spring water.
Mr Nick's Brewhouse.
Thermopot HLT Conversion
Drinking: Mr Nick's East India IPA v3 First Gold & Citra quaffing ale
Conditioning:
FV:
Planned: Some other stuff.
Ageing:
Thermopot HLT Conversion
Drinking: Mr Nick's East India IPA v3 First Gold & Citra quaffing ale
Conditioning:
FV:
Planned: Some other stuff.
Ageing:
-
EccentricDyslexic
Re: French water quality
Jubby, many thanks for your help, i will take your advice and send a sample of tap water to them. I have emailed them to ask for costs.
Cheers!
Steve
Cheers!
Steve
Re: French water quality
You're welcome Steve.EccentricDyslexic wrote:Jubby, many thanks for your help, i will take your advice and send a sample of tap water to them. I have emailed them to ask for costs.
Cheers!
Steve
I would be interested to know how much they charge.
Mr Nick's Brewhouse.
Thermopot HLT Conversion
Drinking: Mr Nick's East India IPA v3 First Gold & Citra quaffing ale
Conditioning:
FV:
Planned: Some other stuff.
Ageing:
Thermopot HLT Conversion
Drinking: Mr Nick's East India IPA v3 First Gold & Citra quaffing ale
Conditioning:
FV:
Planned: Some other stuff.
Ageing:
-
EccentricDyslexic
Re: French water quality
Emailed brewlab, they will test to 95£+vat, they need 1 litre. I am considering it... 
Steve
Steve