Nov 3, 2010 - Water Modification Tech Meeting

[BrewHound]

Hey all just a reminder that there is a tech meeting tomorrow night. At this tech meeting we will be going over water modification in a brewing environment.

With the last tech meeting being so hands on, this will be more of a presentation type meeting, so you can come hang out and drink a beer, and learn about how to modify your water. I am going to try to do a demonstration on modification of water to one of the famous profiles, "However, as I don't modify my water currently either (though after my reading and right ups I am going to start), I am lacking in some things required to do this as perfect as could be done.

For example I don't have a precision scale for measuring out additives, scale for addititives need to go down at least to hundreds of a gram preferable thousands of a gram, nore do I have all the addititives needed or testing methods required for all key aspects for modification. However, as an aquarium guy I do have some of it.

Tech information.

TECH TOPIC: WATER MODIFICATION
DATE: NOVEMBER 3RD, 2010
PLACE: JEREMY'S HOUSE
LOCATION:
1205 WALDENWOOD LN NE
CEDAR RAPIDS, IA 52402
PHONE: (319) 491 - 7268

I hope to see as many of you there as can make it.

[Mr T]

I have a gram scale I will try and remember to bring.

What additives are u lacking.. I also have water test meter to show ppm.

From: BrewHound <brew-techmeet@crbeernuts.org>
Sent: Tuesday, November 02, 2010 9:52 AM
To: brew-techmeet@crbeernuts.org
Subject: Nov 3, 2010 - Water Modification Tech Meeting

Hey all just a reminder that there is a tech meeting tomorrow night. At this tech meeting we will be going over water modification in a brewing environment.

With the last tech meeting being so hands on, this will be more of a presentation type meeting, so you can come hang out and drink a beer, and learn about how to modify your water. I am going to try to do a demonstration on modification of water to one of the famous profiles, "However, as I don't modify my water currently either (though after my reading and right ups I am going to start), I am lacking in some things required to do this as perfect as could be done.

For example I don't have a precision scale for measuring out additives, scale for addititives need to go down at least to hundreds of a gram preferable thousands of a gram, nore do I have all the addititives needed or testing methods required for all key aspects for modification. However, as an aquarium guy I do have some of it.

Tech information.

TECH TOPIC: WATER MODIFICATION
DATE: NOVEMBER 3RD, 2010
PLACE: JEREMY'S HOUSE
LOCATION:
1205 WALDENWOOD LN NE
CEDAR RAPIDS, IA 52402
PHONE: (319) 491 - 7268

I hope to see as many of you there as can make it

Post generated using Mail2Forum (http://www.mail2forum.com)

[BrewHound]

'T' does your gram scale do at least .01 grams? I scale that I use for hops and malt only goes down to 1 gram.

I will have to look for the addititives that I am missing.
I know I am missing:
Lactic Acid
Phosporhic Acid

However, I know they have some of this at the Blairs Ferry Hy Vee, I will check there and post back tonight.

Test kits I would have Mag, Ph, CA, SO, missing Potassium



You have a water test meter to show PPM? PPM of what?

[BrewHound]

Just general ppm.. Does not break down.

I am confused 'T', it has to be ppm of something? ppm of CA, ppm of SO, ppm of something.

Are you talking about a Dissolved Solids meter, that gives the dissolved solids in PPM?

[Mr T]

Just general ppm.. Does not break down.

Yeah gram scale goes to .001 or better. Don't recall.

From: BrewHound <brew-techmeet@crbeernuts.org>
Sent: Tuesday, November 02, 2010 11:17 AM
To: brew-techmeet@crbeernuts.org
Subject: Re: Nov 3, 2010 - Water Modification Tech Meeting

'T' does your gram scale do at least .01 grams? I scale that I use for hops and malt only goes down to 1 gram.

I will have to look for the addititives that I am missing.
I know I am missing:
Lactic Acid
Phosporhic Acid

However, I know they have some of this at the Blairs Ferry Hy Vee, I will check there and post back tonight.

Test kits I would have Mag, Ph, CA, SO, missing Potassium



You have a water test meter to show PPM? PPM of what?

Post generated using Mail2Forum (http://www.mail2forum.com)

[Mr T]

Yeah, just dissolved solids.. could measure fecal matter for all it tells you.

Just checked my scale, guess it only goes to .01




From: BrewHound [mailto:brew-techmeet@crbeernuts.org]
Sent: Tuesday, November 02, 2010 11:55 AM
To: brew-techmeet@crbeernuts.org
Subject: Re: Nov 3, 2010 - Water Modification Tech Meeting


Mr T wrote:
Just general ppm.. Does not break down.



I am confused 'T', it has to be ppm of something? ppm of CA, ppm of SO, ppm of something.

Are you talking about a Dissolved Solids meter, that gives the dissolved solids in PPM?

Post generated using Mail2Forum (http://www.mail2forum.com)

[carrisr]

I too have most of the common additions and a scale. I can also bring my water report from Ward Labs, as well as a spreadsheet that I use for calculations. Or you can download the latest version from http://www.ezwatercalculator.com/. I'm willing to do a walk through using it.

My scale goes down to 10th of a gram as well, which is good enough for my use.

[BrewHound]

I too have most of the common additions and a scale. I can also bring my water report from Ward Labs, as well as a spreadsheet that I use for calculations. Or you can download the latest version from http://www.ezwatercalculator.com/. I'm willing to do a walk through using it.

My scale goes down to 10th of a gram as well, which is good enough for my use.

Randy, do you have a copy of the water report in a digital format?
Also could you give me a list of "common additions" that you have?

[carrisr]

Jeremy,
I have the following:
Gypsum
Calcium Chloride
Epsom Salt
Non-Iodized Salt
Chalk
Lactic Acid
Acidulated Malt

I've attached my water report.

[BrewHound]

Damn Randy, you go brother!

Wow, you don't @%#$ around, you got to be the most dedicated beersmith around these parts. I have Gypsum and Epsom Salts could you maybe bring the rest.

Thanks for the report.

[carrisr]

Just to follow up with last night's meeting with some resources:

Here's the scale I use. I seems to work OK for my needs.
http://www.amazon.com/American-Weigh-Bl ... 469&sr=8-1

There are tons of similar scales and they are all pretty inexpensive.

The spreadsheet I use can be found at:
http://www.ezwatercalculator.com/

A good article on reading water reports:
http://braukaiser.com/wiki/index.php/Ho ... ter_report

If you want to test you water yourself at home:
http://braukaiser.com/wiki/index.php/At ... er_testing

If you want to send your water off to be tested:
http://wardlab.com/images/SampleForms/wsis.pdf

Kai's paper on the relationship of beer color, alkilinity, and pH:
http://braukaiser.com/wiki/index.php/Be ... nd_mash_pH

If you really want to geek out on the topic:
http://braukaiser.com/documents/effect_ ... ash_pH.pdf

Info on pH meters:
http://braukaiser.com/wiki/index.php/PH ... ying_Guide

[BrewHound]

Attached you will find the datasheet that I put together for this tech topic.

[bkanderson]

Great stuff guys. Lots of detail and information. I use a similar spreadsheet that randy has but it is from John Palmer
www.howtobrew.com/section3/Palmers_Mash_RA_ver2e.xls

I have been using for for a little over a year and i think it has improved the beer somewhat but Cedar Rapids water is already geared toward IPA's which is what we make the most.

I get the water report on a quarterly basis and it doesn't change a lot.