Water Analysis Results.

[Greg2013]

Well the resuts of my water analysis are in, have a look below and also at the recommendations for additions from the lab.

pH 6.2

Nitrate 7.1ppm

Calcium 11ppm

Magnesium 3ppm

Chloride 38ppm

Sulphate 7.8ppm

Alkalinity (as CaCO3) 27ppm

I suggest you should use 155g of DWB per brewers barrel of beer to be made.

[DEMPSEY]

Soft water there who did your water test.

[Greg2013]

Soft water there who did your water test.

Murphy's Labs in UK. 

They are suggesting DWB(in house blend of course) but since i cannot get that here have ye any suggestions as to additions needed ? 

[nigel_c]

How much was it to get the test done. I really need to get into my water treatment.
Does it cover all the details needed? A complete breakdown?

[Garry]

Have you a link Greg. Google ain't cooperating with me  You'd swear Murphy was a common name or something!

[Greg2013]

Have you a link Greg. Google ain't cooperating with me  You'd swear Murphy was a common name or something!

http://www.murphyhomebrew.com/laboratory-services/water-analysis/prod_104.html

With postage and exchange rates it will cost as now about 50.00 euro. They email the results, its a specific test for brewing purposes, given the extremely poor state of my water i had to get it done anyway.

Nigel C the results above is what they test for,also they will suggest what additions if any they feel you need to make. If i remember correctly when submitting the sample you have to state what beer styles you mostly brew as additions are dependant on this. However you still get the results as above and i reckon you can work out form them yourself what you need for whatever beer you are brewing.

[Greg2013]

Murphys just emailed me back and the additions they suggested for my above water profile are for "Bitters" beer styles not any of the rest. They have said they will furnish suggestions for ales,stouts etc to me. Be aware any of ye thinking of doing this that you need to list ALL beer styles you intend to brew when sending in your water sample as they will not provide that as standard.

[DEMPSEY]

Do you use beersmith because if you do then just enter these results and then when you want to brew a style of beer pick a water profile from their list and your additions for that style will be listed with your ingredients. You can get that blend of salts in the HBC.

[Greg2013]

Do you use beersmith because if you do then just enter these results and then when you want to brew a style of beer pick a water profile from their list and your additions for that style will be listed with your ingredients. You can get that blend of salts in the HBC.

Must look into that,have a m8 in Aus aso going to work it out on some app he has called ez water calculator ?

[Greg2013]

Hi Greg,
We do sell DWB to Ireland via our Export department, please tell me the address and Paula (cc'd in) will get back to you with a quote.

For Mild we recommend:-
Calcium Sulphate Flake at 42 grams per barrel
Calcium Chloride Flake at 42 grams per barrel
And Sodium Chloride at 28 grams per barrel

For Porter we recommend:
DWB at 112.5 grams per barrel
And Sodium Chloride at 28 grams per barrel

For Stout
Calcium Sulphate Flake at 28 grams per barrel
Calcium Chloride Flake at 57 grams per barrel
And Sodium Chloride at 28 grams per barrel

I hope this makes sense. Also if you require any of the other salts such as Calcium Chloride Flake or Calcium Sulphate please let us know so we can add it to the quote.

I'm not emailing them back again but do they not brew any lagers or the like in UK ?

[nigel_c]

There are loads of excel docs you can download and plug the numbers into.
All the brewing software should have it though. For lagers it would probably be easier to cut your water with RO water. The software should also have an option for this.
Thanks for the link. I think it time to get into this myself. Playing around with lagers over the last few months and have being doing the RO way with good results.
Cheers.

[Qs]

Bru n Water (https://sites.google.com/site/brunwater/) seems to have a better reputation than Beersmith for water adjustments.

We've pretty soft water in Wicklow too AFAIK, my mate did tests a few years ago so I assume not too much has changed since. I'm going to try and use this method on my next batch to boost the hop flavour, aroma and bitterness. I'm going to start by using the acid malt suggested but a bit less gypsum and calcium chloride. If it needs more I'll add it in the following batch.

[olale]

Don't the county councils put out water reports? Are they not accurate enough or would the results change from house to house? Here's a link to Fingal CC and the have a sheet for different area's.
http://www.fingalcoco.ie/water-and-drainage/water-quality/water-quality-reports/

[DEMPSEY]

Council water reports are of no use to brewers because they do not show the breakdown of salts and minerals

[baphomite51]

does anyone know if the water comes from the one source all year round in dublin or does it change?? if thats the case it would make a test like that a bit useless. it would be great if the water never changed id love to know exactly whats coming out of my tap, right now im buying bottled water each brew that has the mineral content on it but who knows how accurate that is.