wobdee
Junior Member
Is there a certain percentage or ml per gal estimate for lactic acid taste threshold? Thanks
Is there a certain percentage or ml per gal estimate for lactic acid taste threshold? Thanks
Thanks guys. I've been using 3ml in a Pils to bring my PH down to 5.4 but I want to go a bit lower around 5.2-5.3 so another ml shouldn't hurt.
Around 3 mL of the 88% stuff should get you to around 5.4 for a mash of 90% malt like Weyermanns Pils depending on what else is in there assuming 3.5 gal mash water and 10 lbs malt but such a mash is going to have a buffering around -212 mEq/kgpH so that dropping it another 0.1 pH is going to take about 21 mEq of acid. As 88% lactic is about 12 N that almost 2 mL more. Dropping it another 0.1 to 5.2 is going to take another 2 for a total of 7. That strikes me as quite a bit. More to the point: why do you want to go so low? 5.4 is, IMO, at the low end of where you want to be.
I seem to remember Kunze recommending that lagers be brewed with slightly higher pH's but I might remember that wrong. If you have brewed these beers at lower pH and find the results better than when they are brewed at higher pH then by all means shoot for lower. But I'll note that 5.3 at room temperature implies 5.05 or lower at mash pH. That just feels pretty low to me.The reason i want to lower my PH down to 5.2-5.3 is just recommendations I've read here and other forums that lighter beers benefit more in that range but that could be wrong, not sure.
You'll note that I spoke of a malt 'like Weyermanns'. I did that because that is a malt I have measurements on. I don't have measurements on Best pils so I can't say with certainty that you will get the same results per mL acid. I have to guess that Best pils will be similar to Weyermanns, IOW I have to guess. But then so does the program you are using because it is based on a model which (we hope) is at least based on malt mesurements by its creator, but not on the malt you are using. Don't put too much reliance on these programs.According to Brewers Friend if add a total of 4ml of 88% lactic acid it will drop PH down to 5.27. 3ml gives me 5.4.
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