Water Treatment Calculator

This Calculator is intended to help you quantify and adjust the characteristics of your brewing water.  It uses the six main mineral variables which affect the creation and flavor of finished beer.  You can find these variables for most cities online (public works websites, etc.) and you can find these variables for target water styles of famous brewing cities online as well.  It is important to note that it is almost impossible for a home brewer to exactly recreate the water of Munich, London, or Dublin as you will shortly discover.  Also, it is far more effective to add less than what the numbers say is accurate.  These additions do not work as nature does and have not had the chance to diffuse, blend, and settle.

Please email GudgerandFerguson@gmail.com for a copy of this compatible Excel document.

Directions:

1 - YOUR WATER - If you are using your tap water look online for the characteristics of your city's water and enter these next to "Your Water."  I have entered Louisville, KY's average water characteristics.
     If you are using distilled water, enter 0 for all six minerals.

2 - DESIRED WATER - Research the characteristics for the water you are trying to recreate.  All major brewing cities should have this information online.  Many brewing books have this information as well.  These numbers are not part of any calculation, but act as a reference as you manipulate your calculations.  Enter these numbers next to "Desired Water."

3 - VOLUME - Enter the total final yield you expect from brewing and enter them in as gallons where it says "Volume (Gallons)=."

4 - ADDITIONS - The five pink boxes in the lower right are the amounts of the minerals you intend to add to your water.  The additions are in grams and the calculator adjusts for the Total Volume Yield.  As you change these numbers, you will notice "Total Adjustment" and "Adjusted" change above.  Compare these to the "Desired Water" directly below and you will be able to achieve somewhat accurate recreations of famous brewing waters. 


Additions:

Calcium Sulfate (Gypsum) is available as a powder at homebrew stores.

Calcium Chloride is available in a small grain form at homebrew stores.

Magnesium Sulfate (Epsom Salt) is available at drug stores as it is commonly used as a medical aid.

Sodium Chloride (Table Salt) is easy to find.

Calcium Carbonate (Chalk) is available as a fine powder at homebrew stores.



Enjoy an authentic German lager or British bitter!