Hi friends.
I started tinkering with my water chemistry a couple years ago. I use EZwater, I think it’s called, to formulate salts/acid prior to brewing. I am still a novice, however, at water chemistry (For example, I haven’t even got thru chapter three of the Water book). Even though I know very little about water, what I have done with such knowledge has improved my beers quite a bit.
I have had my well water tested. I usually use a bit of it along with some distilled water. I add Calcium Chloride or Calcium Sulfate usually, and also phosporic acid, to dial in my brews to the desired mineral content/pH.
Here is my question: On lighter-colored beers, I have to use more acid/minerals to lower the estimated mash pH into more of an acidic range, in the software. Should I use acid to drop the pH into the range, and Then add the minimal amount of salts to create the right mineral profile; or, should I use salts first to drop the pH and Then use the minimal amount of acid to lower pH if it still isn’t low enough?
I want to use the smallest amount of acid and salts in my beer as possible, as I believe from experience (and from Gordon’s recent book) that it is easy to ‘overdose’ the brew with them and taste them in the finished product.
Any thoughts from educated and experienced brewers?