I am looking to brew a West Coast influenced IIPA, and am located in Nebraska and I have fairly hard, and fairly Alkaline water.

The water in Lincoln is approximately (in ppms):

ph 7.62 - 8

Ca - 67.4
Na - 37.7
Mg - ~15
Cl - 21.5
SO4 - 101

Total Alkalinity CaCO3 - 190ppm
Total Hardness CaCO3 - 242 ppm

I think I have an RA of ~134

The recipe is basically 100% 2-row and a little sugar, and maybe a Hi-Malt Corn Syrup to boost gravity a bit.

Maybe 90% 2-row, 5% Cane Sugar, 5% HiMalt Syrup. Targeting ~ -40 RA

So, after brewing for several years, I am now starting to wrap my head around RA. I have learned from trial and error Lincoln's water is really good for Browns and Stouts... Anyhow, I usually add 100 ppm Ca from CaSO4 as well as some Phosphoric Acid to reach 5.2 in the mash. For IPAs I have been adding just 50ppm Ca from CaCl2 to the mash for IPAs, because Lincoln's water can make some really harsh bitterness/astringency without that added Chloride.

In any event, I am looking to make a ripping WC/IPA at about 1.070/70IBUS and an SRM of ~3-5.

After looking at Tasty's water for his IPA/Pales
Ca- 110
Mg - 18
Na - 17
SO4 - 350
Cl 50
HCO3 - 0

SO4:Cl2 7

As well as looking into Green Flash's source water and the profiles people are targeting as a clone.
I don't think I need to get that extreme with the SO4:Cl2 ratio.

I am finding that if I add 50 ppm ca from CaSO4 and 50 ppm Ca from CaCl2 that I wind up with a SO4 :Cl Ratio of 1.65.
ppms are around Cl2-120 and SO4-198. Does anyone think these levels, specifically the Cl2 are too high?

I am looking for a fairly balanced mineral profile, and not overly dry since there isn't any Caramel malts and with the Wpl001, I would expect the beer to attenuate well. I don't want it retardedly dry.

Going from Palmer's RA spread sheet, I will have about 153ppm Calcium and maybe 20 Magnesium. If I am able to get the RA into the 30s from the salts alone, essentially all I need to do is use Acid (phosphoric) to get the mash down to 5.2?



Furthermore I am considering adding the 50ppm Ca from CaCl2 and 25ppm Ca from CaSO4, and then add Phosphoric to get to 5.2 in the mash. and then adding the rest - 25ppm Ca from CaSO4 into the entire volume of Wort in the boil.



Thoughts? Suggestions?

Brendan, sent you a PM on FB.

Brian