Beer Brewing Water Chemistry Calculator

Optimize your brewing water for any beer style. Enter your current water profile and brewing parameters to get precise salt addition recommendations.

Current Water Profile (ppm)

Calcium (Ca)*

Calcium concentration in parts per million.

Magnesium (Mg)*

Magnesium concentration in parts per million.

Sulfate (SO4)*

Sulfate concentration in parts per million.

Chloride (Cl)*

Chloride concentration in parts per million.

Sodium (Na)*

Sodium concentration in parts per million.

Bicarbonate (HCO3)*

Bicarbonate concentration in parts per million.

Brewing Parameters

Batch Volume (Liters)*

Total volume of wort in liters for your batch.

Desired Beer Style*

Select the style of beer you are brewing to set target water profile ranges.

Desired Mash pH*

Advanced Profile Preference*

Balanced

Chloride-Forward

Sulfate-Forward

Calculation Results

Target Calcium (Ca) ppm:

Target Magnesium (Mg) ppm:

Target Sulfate (SO4) ppm:

Target Chloride (Cl) ppm:

Target Bicarbonate (HCO3) ppm:

Recommended Salt Additions (grams)

Gypsum (CaSO4):

0.717 g

Calcium Chloride (CaCl2):

1.586 g

Epsom Salt (MgSO4):

1.013 g

Baking Soda (NaHCO3):

0.826 g

Table Salt (NaCl):

-0.601 g

Expected Final Water Profile (ppm)

Final Calcium (Ca) ppm:

30.002

Final Magnesium (Mg) ppm:

4.999

Final Sulfate (SO4) ppm:

39.743

Final Chloride (Cl) ppm:

Final Sodium (Na) ppm:

-0.52

Final Bicarbonate (HCO3) ppm:

30.013

Based on your inputs, the recommended salt additions will help you achieve a water profile optimized for your chosen beer style. This should contribute to better mash pH control and enhanced flavor characteristics in your final brew.

Made with Minform

How to calculate Beer Brewing Water adjustments?

Understanding water chemistry is crucial for brewing consistent and high-quality beer. This calculator helps you determine the precise mineral additions needed to achieve your target water profile.

The conversion from grams of mineral salt to parts per million (ppm) in a given volume of water is calculated as follows:

ppm = (grams_of_salt * 1000) / volume_liters

Using the Beer Brewing Water Chemistry calculator: an example

Let's say you want to adjust 20 liters of water to achieve a specific mineral profile for a Pale Ale.

Step-by-step calculation:

Input Water Volume: Enter 20 liters as your brewing water volume.
Select Target Profile: Choose 'Pale Ale' from the target water profile options.
Review Adjustments: The calculator will display the recommended grams of gypsum, calcium chloride, and Epsom salt needed. For example, you might see 5g Gypsum, 3g Calcium Chloride, and 1g Epsom Salt.
Add Minerals: Carefully measure and add these minerals to your brewing water.

Achieving the perfect water profile is key to unlocking the full potential of your brew.

Q: Why is water chemistry important for brewing?

Water chemistry significantly impacts mash pH, enzyme activity, hop utilization, yeast health, and the overall flavor and mouthfeel of your beer.

Q: What are the most common minerals used in brewing?

Common minerals include Gypsum (calcium sulfate), Calcium Chloride, Epsom Salt (magnesium sulfate), and Chalk (calcium carbonate).

Q: Can I use distilled water for brewing?

Yes, distilled or RO water is a great starting point as it's a blank slate, allowing you to build your water profile from scratch with precise mineral additions.