Does Harder Water Make It Harder To Brew Beer?
Where beer is most famously consumed, like Germany or the Czech Republic, many beer masters and brewers build their own water to control the alkalinity of its final product. You heard that right! Certain waters can create certain styles, like Pilsner, Helles, Weissbier—bottom line, not all water is created equal when it comes to brewing your own beer. This National Beer Day, whether you’re an expert or just dabbling in a DIY project, learn more about brewing your own beer and how your choice of water can affect it.
WHAT IS “HARD” WATER?
The “hardness” of your water determines your finished product. So, before the brewing process even begins, it’s important to consider what’s in your water, and at what amount. Hard minerals such as calcium, sulfate, sodium, chloride and magnesium, as well as its alkalinity, should all be taken into consideration. And while these minerals are all safe to drink as water, it might not be what’s best for your beer.
In fact, brewing capitals of the world often brew their beers in locations known for great water quality. For example, the town of Pilsen, Czech Republic created a beer from their local water known for its low mineral content— “soft” water. This type of beer was admirably dubbed “Pilsner Urquell,” and other beers similar were named Pilsner, known for their pale color thanks to the water’s softness.
THE FOUNDATION OF A GREAT BEER
The creation of beer is centered around chemistry. But that doesn’t mean you need to be a chemist to brew good beer. All great beers are started with a good foundation, and that foundation is purified water. In Reverse Osmosis (RO) purified water, like Primo® Water, brewers get the chance to start with a “blank canvas” or “baseline” as many master brewers call it. This allows the brewer to control how much chloride to add, which affects the mouthfeel of the beer. Or, it allows them to control the number of sulfates in the finished product, affecting its hoppy flavor. So, not only is purified water a safer option, but it allows for complete customization of flavor and style.
A PERFECT POUR WITH PRIMO
Lucky for brew masters and at-home brewers alike, Primo® Water offers safer, fresher water alternative to tap water. Since tap water varies from location to location, Primo is a consistently providing the same quality of water, purified via RO, free of bacteria, heavy metals, trace pharmaceuticals and more. In other words—it’s perfect water to practice your brewing skills.
This National Beer day, get creative with your brews by choosing Primo. That way, you can feel good about your craft and your finished product, too. Find your nearest Primo retailer here, and tell us in the comments below: what’s your favorite beer?