Soft Water.

[tomnt1]

My well water is high in sulfate ( soft as a babys tongue ) The 2 batches I've done so far have been quick fermenters, good clarity, and low FG's.

Unless I add hardeners will all I brew be on the dry side and does this affect the taste as far as hops, yeast, etc.?

Am I nitpicking my brewing water or what? LOL

I want to try an Imperial Stout soon, any advice on adjusting this soft water for this will be appreciated.

[S.F.B.]

There are additives to adjust the hardness of your water. One of the easiest is gypsum. having soft water here, I like to throw in an ounce of it in some of my beers. Hardness does affect your flavors. You will get more bitteness from your hops with harder water.

I am not sure that it will have any influence on the dryness of the beer. Maybe one of the other folks here can give some insight on this.

[Fast_Eddy]

In my understanding, dryness has more to do with attenuation.

Attenuation has mostly to do with the yeast strain, fermentation temp, mash temps for all grain(fermentable vs. unfermentable sugars), and mash ph for all grain.

[YamahaXS]

yeast like sulfate i believe, so you get more attentuation b/c your water is high in sulfates.

I like the IPAs and Bitters, and so I add gypsum or other types of hardening minerals to my beer usually.

[Eggenberg]

If the proposition of buying water gets expensive, you should consider modifying your municipal or well water. you can call the municipality and they will be able to give you a breakdown on the sulfate, carbonate and salinity of your water. If you have a well, you can get a free water test kit through some of the websites in the prior link.

I would also recommend picking up a copy of Byron Burch's book on Brewing Quality Beers. It is relatively cheap at $6.95 and you probably can get it cheaper via Amazon with an used copy. There is a brief primer on water salts. It walks you through what the water salts should be for each common beer style. In the case of brewing a stout there is a very high parts per million of Chalk. It makes since, when you think of stouts coming from the isles of Britain and the white chalk cliffs of dover.

Good luck on your brew.

[cyanide]

Originally posted by S.F.B.
There are additives to adjust the hardness of your water. One of the easiest is gypsum. having soft water here, I like to throw in an ounce of it in some of my beers. Hardness does affect your flavors. You will get more bitteness from your hops with harder water.

I am not sure that it will have any influence on the dryness of the beer. Maybe one of the other folks here can give some insight on this.

What is the purpose of gypsum exactly? Does it allow for a higher final gravity?

[YamahaXS]

Originally posted by cyanide
What is the purpose of gypsum exactly? Does it allow for a higher final gravity?

Gypsum (and other 'water salts' will harden your water.

It is used to approach the traditional 'bitter' flavor in some London Ales b/c the water where these beers were traditionally brewed is very hard.