Hi all,
I know that a lot of emphasis is placed on dialing in an ideal PH range (usually 5.2-5.4) in the mash but I have been having a hard time finding consensus information on ideal pre-boil and post-boil PH ranges.
Some information I found indicates you want a lower pre-boil PH (around 5.2) to precipitate a better hot break and reduce extraction of harsh bitterness from your hops. I have also read that the lower PH tends to "mute" hop character in hoppy beers like pales and IPAs while making hop character in less hoppy beers (like lagers) more defined and crisper overall, which is a bit confusing to me.
In a beer like a double IPA (which I will be brewing this weekend) would it be better to shoot for a lower boil PH and increase my hop additions (if so, by how much?) to get the benefits of the better hop break and less harsh bitterness while still maintaining the high hop flavor/aroma character of the style? Or should I shoot for a boil PH of around 5.4 for the hoppier beers and lower it for less hoppy styles?
I know that a lot of emphasis is placed on dialing in an ideal PH range (usually 5.2-5.4) in the mash but I have been having a hard time finding consensus information on ideal pre-boil and post-boil PH ranges.
Some information I found indicates you want a lower pre-boil PH (around 5.2) to precipitate a better hot break and reduce extraction of harsh bitterness from your hops. I have also read that the lower PH tends to "mute" hop character in hoppy beers like pales and IPAs while making hop character in less hoppy beers (like lagers) more defined and crisper overall, which is a bit confusing to me.
In a beer like a double IPA (which I will be brewing this weekend) would it be better to shoot for a lower boil PH and increase my hop additions (if so, by how much?) to get the benefits of the better hop break and less harsh bitterness while still maintaining the high hop flavor/aroma character of the style? Or should I shoot for a boil PH of around 5.4 for the hoppier beers and lower it for less hoppy styles?