We just installed a reverse osmosis (RO) filter system at our house, because the tap water tastes gross. I tested the TDS and it was 3ppm! I thought “oh that must be great, pure water,” but my friend told me you actually want minerals in there to help extract.
So… Anyone else in this boat? I know there are RO systems that will remineralize after the filter, but ours doesn’t… And I don’t think I want to uninstall this beast. I know there are little drops you can add, but they seem expensive… Just wondering what y’all other home brewers do. Thanks!
I use it for home brew beer, I get a pretty clean start with RO water and then re-mineralise depending on the style of beer. If you found an ideal mixture of the salts you want, you can measure this out for your volume of water. The salts are items like calcium carbonate, bicarb soda etc mostly common household items.
Excellent, thank you! I didn’t think it’d be similar for beer, but makes sense.
Yeah, here’s a bit of a guide from the beer side and a little extract.
The more chloride, the more malt flavors shine. Enhances fullness and malt sweetness (thick mouthfeel). The more sulfate, the more hops bitterness shines. Produces a drier or crispier beer (thin mouthfeel). Link