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You never miss your water…

February 8, 2011 by Chris Bible

Throughout history great beers have been made in many different parts of the world. Many different factors have played a role on the development and evolution of brewing traditions and practices around the world.

Beer is an agriculturally derived product, so the specific characteristics of beer have historically varied from region to region depending upon the particular growing circumstances associated with a given region. Beer characteristics have also been affected by differing regional political influences on taxation and trade; tax rates and ingredient availability certainly played a role in the brewer’s choice to produce a particular kind of beer.

Beer characteristics are also closely linked the particular methods of malting and kilning of the barley that were employed in a given region of the world. The characteristics of beer are also very much influenced by every step of the process of manufacturing of beer, and has been impacted greatly by the common brewing practices that have been traditionally employed in different parts of the world.

Over time, different cities have become famous for the production of particular styles of beer. There are many reasons for this, but perhaps the greatest influence on the reason that a particular beer style has come to be associated with a particular city is the brewing water.

Water Chemistry Profiles of Famous Brewing Cities

Brewing operations around the world were established long before the chemistry of water was understood. Brewers learned from experience that a brewing recipe that might produce favourable results in one city, might not produce good results in a different city. Beer styles evolved to suit the water of the city in which they were brewed. A brewer grew to understand what types of beer were well suited to the water that was available for brewing. Water profiles of several of major brewing cities are shown in Table 1 and in Figure 1.

Table 1: Water profiles for classic brewing cities  (concentration in ppm)

TrademarkKindClassAcceptedOwner
AUSSIE APPLESFigurative31, 32, 33, 3508/04/20Horticulture Innovation Australia Limited
Melbourne Venue Co.Word32, 3303/04/20Australian Venue Co Limited
Sydney Venue Co.Word32, 3303/04/20Australian Venue Co Limited
Perth Venue Co.Word32, 3303/04/20Australian Venue Co Limited
Darwin Venue Co.Word32, 3303/04/20Australian Venue Co Limited
Adelaide Venue Co.Word32, 3303/04/20Australian Venue Co Limited
Queensland Venue Co.Word32, 3303/04/20Australian Venue Co Limited
YAMADA BEEWord3, 5, 30, 32, 3517/04/20YAMADA BEE COMPANY, INC.
YAMADA BEE FARMWord3, 5, 30, 32, 35, 4217/04/20YAMADA BEE COMPANY, INC.
BEROCCAWord1, 3, 5, 9, 10, 16, 18, 21, 25, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 35, 41, 42, 43, 44, 4503/04/20Bayer Consumer Care AG
SSFigurative3, 8, 9, 12, 14, 16, 18, 24, 25, 26, 28, 32, 34, 4122/04/20SEAT, S.A.
ORGANIC & RAW TRADING COMPANYFigurative29, 30, 32, 3306/04/20Organic and Raw Pty Ltd
PINEAPPLE LUMPSWord3228/04/20Mondelez International AMEA Pte. Ltd
ZOOMFancy3217/04/20ARIA TRADING BRIDGE PTY LTD
BELLINEE'S BAKE & BREWFigurative16, 32, 33, 4324/04/20ALL CORPORATION LIMITED
BELLINEE'S BAKE & BREWFigurative16, 32, 33, 4324/04/20ALL CORPORATION LIMITED
BELLINEE'S BAKE & BREWFigurative16, 32, 33, 4324/04/20ALL CORPORATION LIMITED
BELLINEE'S BAKE & BREWFigurative16, 32, 33, 4324/04/20ALL CORPORATION LIMITED
HOPZEROWord31, 3230/04/20Totally Natural Solutions Ltd
UpFlowWord3201/04/20UpFlow Brewing Co. Ltd
YAAS!Fancy29, 30, 3203/04/20Arla Foods amba
YAAS!Word29, 30, 3203/04/20Arla Foods amba
BELGO BELGIAN CRAFT BEERFigurative32, 35, 4015/04/20So Belgium Holding Pte Ltd
TRUE TO NATURE, THE FLAVOR OF KAGOMEFigurative29, 30, 31, 3201/04/20KAGOME CO., LTD.
TWIXWord5, 29, 30, 3201/04/20Mars Australia Pty Ltd
V10Figurative3217/04/20Ndynamics, S.L.
独歩 どっぽ
DOPPO DOPPO
Walking Alone
Figurative3223/04/20MIYASHITA SHUZOU CO., LTD.
MONOPOLIO.Fancy3224/04/20LA CERVECERIA DE SAN LUIS LLC
MONOPOLIOWord3224/04/20LA CERVECERIA DE SAN LUIS LLC
JOE'S GARAGEWord29, 30, 32, 4314/04/20JOE'S GARAGE JV LIMITED
Dangerously DrinkableWord3202/04/20Badlands Brewery Pty Ltd
BANNER CROSS THA KNOWSFigurative3202/04/20STEEL CITY BREWING PTY LTD
M MICHELOB ULTRA SUPERIOR LIGHT BEERFigurative3202/04/20Anheuser-Busch, LLC
BRIGHT BREWERY ALPINE LAGERFigurative3203/04/20Alpine Valleys Brewing Pty Ltd
BRIGHT BREWERY ALPINE ALEFigurative3203/04/20Alpine Valleys Brewing Pty Ltd
HIGHJACKWord3217/04/20Xebra Brands, Ltd.
Cows with GunsWord3203/04/20KING TIDE BREWING PTY LTD
GrandstanderWord3203/04/20KING TIDE BREWING PTY LTD
WUSUFigurative3220/04/20XINJIANG WUSU BREWERIES CO., LTD.
EWE BEAUTFigurative3214/04/20Coles Group Limited
GABS HOTTEST 100 AUSSIE CRAFT BEERSWord32, 3514/04/20SPECTAPULAR ENTERPRISES PTY LTD
COME TOGETHER OVER A BEVYWord25, 3217/04/20Lion - Beer, Spirits & Wine Pty Ltd
SAINTLYWord21, 25, 32, 3322/04/20Chilli Marketing Brand Management Ltd
BIG ORSEFigurative25, 3208/04/20Kess Marstella
PACALEWord3220/04/20Fermentum Pty Ltd
BEER MATE - AUSTRALIA'S MOST ASKED FOR BEER-ORIGINAL MATE-RASPBERRY LIPS-REVIVERWord3215/04/20Henry Lesniak
GINGER BEERDWord3219/12/19Aether Group Pty Ltd
Lead Head LagerWord16, 3224/04/20BRAESIDE BREWING CO Pty Ltd
MeletosWord32, 40, 4321/04/20S.L. FRAZER ENTERPRISES PTY. LTD.
WORKING CLASSYWord32, 40, 4328/04/20White Bay Beer Company Pty Limited
BROUGHT TOGETHER BY BEERWord32, 40, 4330/04/20White Bay Beer Company Pty Limited
HOP GARDENWord3228/04/20Intellectual Property Development Corporation Pty Ltd
BRWDFigurative30, 32, 33, 40, 4303/04/20RES PUBLICA PTY. LIMITED
SOUL TRACKERSWord32, 3307/04/20Australian Vintage Limited
SUNBURSTWord32, 3307/04/20Lion - Beer, Spirits & Wine Pty Ltd
Bomonti FabrikaWord3203/04/20ANADOLU EFES BIRACILIK VE MALT SANAYI ANONIM SIRKETI
BORN IN GEELONG, ENJOYED ALL OVERWord32, 3314/04/20Lion - Beer, Spirits & Wine Pty Ltd
X-MARK FLAVOURED BEERS BOLD MIX-DRINKSFancy3202/04/20United Dutch Breweries B.V.
TAIL BEASTWord32, 3320/04/20Lion - Beer, Spirits & Wine Pty Ltd
HAMMER & SNAILWord32, 3320/04/20Lion - Beer, Spirits & Wine Pty Ltd
CIDEWINEDERWord32, 3320/04/20Casella Wines Pty Limited
837 by SalenaWord30, 32, 3324/04/20SALENA ESTATE WINES PTY LTD
COLLABORATIONSWord32, 3328/04/20Coles Group Limited
PUBLIC BREWING CO WATER SUN BEERFigurative32, 33, 35, 4006/04/20Public Brewing Co Pty Ltd
PUBLIC BREWING COWord32, 33, 35, 4006/04/20Public Brewing Co Pty Ltd
PUBLIC DRAUGHT EVERYDAY BEERFigurative32, 3306/04/20Public Brewing Co Pty Ltd
THE PUBLIC BREWERY WATER SUN BEERFigurative32, 33, 3506/04/20The Public Brewery Pty Limited
PUBLIC DRAUGHTWord32, 3328/04/20Public Brewing Co Pty Ltd
SeabourneWord32, 33, 3501/04/20Weir Distilling Company Pty Ltd
Q TRUE CRAFT SPIRITFigurative16, 32, 33, 4116/04/20Trossachs Distillery Limited
D'yavolWord32, 33, 4316/04/20SLAB beverages B.V.
RAINBIRDWord32, 3315/04/20Endeavour Group Limited
PIPE DREAMSWord3202/04/20Gage Roads Brewing Co Ltd
GAGE ROADS BREWING CO PIPE DREAMS COASTAL LAGERFigurative3202/04/20Gage Roads Brewing Co Ltd
CommunitinniesWord3229/04/20Hop Nation Pty Ltd
FLYING BEETLEWord3220/04/20DOMEA PTY LTD
THE SMILE LABWord3220/04/20Emencee Pty Ltd
LOCK IN LAGERWord3224/04/20Endeavour Beverages Pty Ltd
DRINKS CARTWord32, 33, 3523/04/20Asahi Premium Beverages Pty Ltd
CoasterWord3228/04/20SOUTH EAST BREWING COMPANY PTY LTD

Figure 1: Water profiles for classic brewing cities  (concentration in ppm)

It is clear from the data that water naturally occurring in different cities has very varying levels of dissolved minerals. It is these differences that have helped define the beer and brewing of these cities. Here are descriptions of the distinct brewing waters associated with different cities, and the types of beer that have come to be associated with these cities as a result of the brewing water.

Pilsen – Very soft, low-alkalinity water is optimal for the pale color and clean bitterness of a Pilsner beer. The soft water allows the proper mash pH to be reached using only base malts, and helps the beer achieve the softly-rich flavour of fresh bread. The low sulfate content enables mellow hop bitterness without overpowering the soft maltiness. It also enhances noble hop aroma.

Dortmund – Dortmund is famous for the production of pale lagers and specifically famous for Dortmund Export. Dortmund Export has less hop character than a Pilsner, but a more assertive malt character that is enhanced by the higher levels of all minerals. The balance of the minerals is similar to Vienna, but the beer is bolder, drier, and lighter in colour. Dortmund water is considered to be relatively hard water, with fairly high levels of most all of the water minerals. This water is ideal for making the medium-bitter, pale style that is the Dortmund Export lager.

Vienna – Vienna is known for the production of well-balanced, amber lagers. Vienna has water that contains low levels of sodium and chloride but has a relatively high level of overall hardness. It also has a relatively high sulfate content that helps contribute to a dry finish and can help accentuate the nuttiness of the slightly more highly-kilned malts that are associated with this kind of beer.

Munich – Munich is a city that is known for its dunkles, bocks, märzens and Oktoberfest. The smooth flavours of these types of beer generally have a distinctively sweeter, malty profile that results from effectively using darker malts to balance the acidifying characteristics associated with the carbonate in the mashing and brewing waters. The relatively low sulphur content of Munich’s water enables hop bitterness to be mellow and allows the malt to dominate the flavour profile.

London – London is historically known for its bitters, milds and porters. London water varies from district to district but is exemplified by low calcium, moderate carbonates, high sodium and high chloride content. Water with moderate carbonates and high levels of sodium and chloride are well-suited for brewing smooth, dark, balanced beers that are exemplified by styles such as milds and porters. The sodium also accentuated the sweetness of porter.

Edinburgh – Edinburgh is famous for Scottish ale. This style of beer is a ruby-red, dark, sweet, malty beer with a mellow, slight hop finish. The water of Edinburgh is very similar to that of London, but has a slightly higher bicarbonate and sulfate content. This type of water is ideal for a beer with lots of malt body and enables the beer to be perceived as balanced even though only a small amount of hops are used in the brewing process.

Burton-on-Trent – Burton-on-Trent is known for India pale ale. The water of Burton-on-Trent is very high in calcium and sulfates and relatively low in sodium. The high level of sulfate and low sodium level is ideal for the production of a beer with assertive hop bitterness like an India Pale Ale.

Dublin – Dublin is famous for dry stouts. Dublin water has the highest concentration of bicarbonates of any of the famous brewing centers within the British Isles. This extremely high bicarbonate content is perfect for producing beers that require the use of the highly acidic, dark, roasted malts that define the stout style. Relatively low levels of sodium, chloride, and sulfate allow hop bitterness to unobtrusively balance all of the roasty goodness.

How Dissolved Substances Influence Beer

All brewing water contains dissolved ions that influence various steps in the brewing process and have an impact on the final flavor of the finished beer. Adjusting the concentrations of these substances allows a brewer to customize the brewing water to match that of a historical brewing centre, or to produce brewing water that is ideally suited for the production of a beer with particular characteristics. Table 2 below provides an overview of how various dissolved ions impact beer.

Table 2: How dissolved ions impact beer

OLDNEWTASTING NOTESCHANGES
Pale Ale 5.2%Pale Ale 4.6%Light and refreshing. A light bright contemporary Pale Ale with tropical and spicy hop notes.Reduced ABV but maintained fullness of flavour. Changed water salt profile to enhance softness of palate.
Dirty Word Lager 5%Lager 4.4%A crisp and refreshing lager, dry and light in body with noble hop characters.The Springfield Pilsner recipe replaces Dirty Word Lager entirely and Dirty World Lager is retired. Reduced malt and hop complexity to make the beer more approachable and reduced ABV.
Pilot Light 3.5%Cold One 3.5%A full bodied, bright tropical and complex beer punching well above its weight. Easy Tiger is an out and out craft beer high in flavour and self-control.The beer will have a new and improved recipe based on the old Pilot Light recipe but tweaked into a more easy drinking, but still noticeably hoppy, mid strength pale ale. A new hop bill to make it less piney and lighter and brighter. Changed water salt profile, added more oats and wheat, changed mash schedule to increase fullness of body, and changed lautering process to reduce astringency.
Revelation IPA 6.5%IPA 5.8%Contemporary IPA on trend with Aussie drinkers. Light malt body designed to prop up brighter hops. Complex yet inviting hop bill with fruity, piney, berry and earthy characters. An IPA for drinking.The recipe for IPA has been totally revised to reduce the malt character and increase the vibrance of the Australian Vic Secret hop aroma.
Oaked XPA 5.8%Oaked XPA 5.5%A full bodied Xtra Pale Ale. Fresh mango and grapefruit notes are complimented from vanilla characters from the toasted American oak.There will be no changes to the flavour of Ballistic’s most highly awarded beer except for a slightly lower ABV.

Making Great Beer

 

Great beer is made from great ingredients. Since beer is mostly made of water, it is not surprising that the composition of the water is very important to taste and characteristics of the finisher beer. By matching the mineral content of your brewing water to that of the city from which a particular beer style originated, you can be sure that your beer will be as authentic as possible.

 

To obtain a desired mineral content in your brewing water, obtain an assay of your brewing water and then make adjustments based on the information given in Table 3.

Table 3: Contribution of various substances to brewing water

TrademarkKindClassAcceptedOwner
GARRISONWord14, 29, 30, 32, 33, 43, 4418 May 2020Caryn Mandabach Productions Limited
V VEGAN BEVVEG!Figurative32, 33, 4204 May 2020Carissa Kranz
BROUWERIJ DE MOLENFigurative3218 May 2020Brouwerij De Molen B.V.
TRADIEFancy2, 25, 3220 May 2020Sojo Pty Ltd
BANNER CROSS THA KNOWS YORKSHIRE PALE 4.5% ALCFigurative16, 3219 May 2020STEEL CITY BREWING PTY LTD
BALLISTIC COLD ONEWord3211 May 2020Ballistic Beer Company Pty Ltd
BIG DROPWord32, 33, 4004 May 2020Big Drop Brewing Company Limited
LINGONCELLOWord32, 3314 May 2020Mother's Milk Beverages Oy
GREEN AFFINITYWord3221 May 2020john mansfield
MIXED GIRLFancy3214 May 2020Xu Li
BROKEN KNIGHTWord3212 May 2020Box, Tray & Giraffe Limited
Qingdao Blue Gate Food Co., Ltd.
LOST ISLAND'SFancy3204 May 2020Box, Tray & Giraffe Limited
Qingdao Blue Gate Food Co., Ltd.
5 CowboysWord3221 May 2020Ren Parisi
HAZE OF OUR LIVESWord3215 May 2020Boundary Road Brewery Limited
Y2KWord3214 May 2020Nail Brewing Australia Pty Ltd
PINE HAVEN ESTATEWord32, 3304 May 2020AUSTRALIAN YOYOU DAIRY PTY LTD
AQUACODEFancy3215 May 2020Aquamarine Minerals Technology Co.
VAIVEFigurative3215 May 2020KKV INTERNATIONAL PTY LTD
Go With Your GutWord3218 May 2020REBELLION BREWING PTY LTD
EFES DRAFT PREMIUM QUALITY INGREDIENTSFigurative3207 May 2020ANADOLU EFES BIRACILIK VE MALT SANAYI ANONIM SIRKETI
Image description: MAZEFigurative32, 3305 May 2020Coles Group Limited
EFES EXTRAWord3213 May 2020ANADOLU EFES BIRACILIK VE MALT SANAYI ANONIM SIRKETI
Harry PowerWord32, 3308 May 2020Simon Killeen
L'ASTUCEWord32, 33, 35, 40, 4311 May 2020L’Astuce Limited
BasileusWord32, 3311 May 2020ANGOVE'S PROPRIETARY LIMITED
YTB Yeah The BoysWord3221 May 2020Yeah The Boys Apparel Pty Ltd
STEAK N EGGSWord32, 3311 May 2020Pro-Matrix International Pty Ltd
Image description: BLOOM,STYLISED IN SQUAREFigurative25, 32, 3315 May 2020Siete Bucks Ventures LLC
LITTLE BUNNYWord3226 May 2020Intellectual Property Development Corporation Pty Ltd
HELLS BELLS XPAWord3220 May 2020Bells Beach Brewing Pty Ltd
SUCKY MONMONWord32, 3315 May 2020Panhead Custom Ales Limited
PIKES BEER COWord3226 May 2020Pikes Beer Company Pty Ltd
Spirits From The LandWord32, 33, 3521 May 2020Australian Organic Distillery Pty Ltd
BIRRA MORETTIFigurative3227 May 2020Heineken Italia S.p.A.
SOMEDAYWord32, 33, 4320 May 2020Brick Lane Brewing Co Pty Ltd
TAME TIGERWord32, 3325 May 2020Southcorp Brands Pty Limited
TINNIESFigurative3229 May 2020Coles Group Limited
ODE TO AMY COAL COAST BREWING CO 1898 COMMON ALEFigurative3229 May 2020Kelly Carey
Image description: MOUNTAIN SEEN WITH SUN,DISC,RISING, AGAVES & STILLFigurative25, 32, 3325 May 2020Siete Bucks Ventures LLC
STAY SPIRITED. DRINK FREEWord32, 3327 May 2020Zero Proof International Limited
SEPIAWord30, 32, 3328 May 2020Lion-Beer, Spirits & Wine Pty Ltd
HOPPY DAYSWord6, 7, 11, 30, 31, 32, 33, 35, 4107 May 2020Hoppy Days Brewing Pty Ltd trading as Hoppy Days Brewing Supplies
MAIDENIIWord32, 3329 May 2020Maidenii Pty Ltd as trustee for the Maidenii Unit Trust
MAIDENII VERMOUTHFancy32, 3329 May 2020Maidenii Pty Ltd as trustee for the Maidenii Unit Trust
OPLAND AQUAVIT OPLANDSKE SPRITFABRIK 1872 ROUND AND BALANCED TASTE MATURED FOR 24 MONTHS CRAFTED FOLLOWING THE ORIGINAL RECIPEFigurative32, 33, 4328 May 2020ARCUS NORWAY AS
R&BWord3207 May 2020Innovation Focus Pty Ltd
merivale at homeWord32, 33, 4312 May 2020HEMMES TRADING PTY LIMITED
Beachscape BreweryWord32, 3301 May 2020ESCAPE BREWING PTY LTD
ROYALE LIQUORFigurative32, 3301 May 2020JIN ZHU
SWFigurative25, 32, 4304 May 2020Sou'West Brewery Pty Ltd
DRINKING CLAWSWord25, 32, 3318 May 2020MA Brands Beverage Unlimited Company
RAYWord3206 May 2020Hop Nation Pty Ltd
RETOXWord3214 May 2020JENNIFER HILARY BASARABA as trustee for the P & J BASARABA FAMILY TRUST
Oceans SpiritWord32, 3321 May 2020THE ACADEMY GROUP PTY LTD
YES WE CANWord29, 32, 3518 May 2020Continental Delicatessen Pty Ltd
Best CoastWord3211 May 2020Red Island Group Pty Ltd As Trustee for Red Island Group Unit Trust
Survivor TypeWord3211 May 2020Red Island Group Pty Ltd As Trustee for Red Island Group Unit Trust
GINGER BEERDFigurative3218 May 2020AETHER GROUP PTY LTD
OJASFigurative29, 30, 31, 3228 May 2020Vivid Basil Pty Ltd
Just inWord32, 33, 4327 May 2020HEMMES TRADING PTY LIMITED
Juice TrainWord32, 3322 May 2020Red Island Group Pty Ltd As Trustee for Red Island Group Unit Trust
Double TimeWord32, 3322 May 2020Red Island Group Pty Ltd As Trustee for Red Island Group Unit Trust
Dangerous AlesWord32, 3325 May 2020DANGEROUS ALES PTY LTD
tailey'sWord3226 May 2020Innovation Focus Pty Ltd

References:

1) Freccia, Nico, Brew Your Own, May 1996

2) Palmer, John, How to Brew, Chapters 4 & 15, 2006, p.37-39, 153-165

Links About Brewing Water:

http://www.antiochsudsuckers.com/tom/brewingwater.htm

http://www.homebrew.com/mike_brew_corner/mike_03270101.shtml

http://www.brodiescastlebrewing.com/index.php?topic=142.0

http://www.howtobrew.com/section3/chapter15-2.html.

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Tom Clift says

    February 16, 2011 at 9:08 am

    I’m a homebrewer from Melbourne and my water comes from the Silvan reservoir. This water (and most other water in Melbourne) is softer again than Pilsen:

    http://www.sewl.com.au/SiteCollectionDocuments/Residential/Water_Quality/Typical_%20Water_Analysis.pdf

    Water this soft is essentially a blank slate. While that does mean that making great beer requires some understanding of brewing water chemistry, I’d much prefer to be adding stuff to my water than taking it out!

    Of course, many brewers with hard water simply skip the tap and buy it by the container.

Category: Features Tagged: brewing, Burton-on-Trent, Pilsen, water

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