Water Profile Reference?

[fredman730]

We've been brewing all-grain for a few years now using well water and the beers have been good. Now we're interested in modifying the water (well or RO as necessary) profile to enhance the beer style.

We have a profile on our source water but what we haven't found is a good reference relating beer style to a "preferred" water profile. Does such a beast exist?

We get that one could start with a historical water profile from where a style originated ... but that may not be "the best" profile but rather just what they had. We just want to make a good beer better. ;>)

Thanks

Fred

Tap 1 - Bourbon Vanilla Stout
Tap 2 - Saison
Tap 3 - Empty
Fermenting - nada (sigh)

 

[Happywanderer]

Use Brewersfriend or Brunwater

Brewersfriend is a website ($10/year) that has a water calculator that is handy and you can input a "target" water profile.

Brunwater is an excel spreadsheet ($0) that allows you to do the same thing but has more choices of "target" profiles. This is what I use for water chemistry.

edit:

Then sample the same style beer made in different regions of the world. Find several that you prefer. Call those breweries and figure out where their water comes from and what they use to treat their water.

This involves lots of beer drinking... and potentially expensive phone bills. But it will be worth it.