Water quality - Hard vs Soft water

[ajoleary]

I went to the local HBS to buy supplies to make a Newcastle Brown Ale, and the guy asked what my water was like. He was a Englishman and said that within the UK, there is a significant differences in water 'Hardness' between regions, hence the varied types of beer available across the country.

Ie. Newcastle Brown Ale should use a Softer Water, whilst an Old Speckeld Hen (my next batch) requires much Harder water.

Typically with all my beer, I have used Puratap water thinking the less impurities the better. However. I think this would make the water very soft, therefore in some circumstances may actually be resulting in beers further from what I'm trying to acheive. He also added, that you could add "a teaspoon of Gypsym" to harden the water.

Listed below is an exerpt from Wikipedia regarding Australia's water qualities. I live in Adelaide, so I could perhaps forgo the puratap on occasions and get significantly better results.

Analysis of water hardness in major Australian cities by the Australian Water Association shows a range from very soft (Melbourne) to very hard (Adelaide). Total Hardness as Calcium Carbonate mg/L are: Melbourne: 11.3 - 14.0; Sydney: 39.4 - 60.1; Perth: 30 - 198; Brisbane: 100; Adelaide: 101 - 216; Hobart: 6 - 50; Darwin: 22 - 38

Any comment, thoughts, or recommendations for specific beers types?

[ACTbrewer]

I was told not to use my special tank filtered water as it would be too soft. To be honest, I made two batched of Bitter. One with the tank water, one with tap (filtered) water. They both tasted the same to me!!

[chris.]

Your water supplier will supply you with a typical water analysis if you request it. Most actually have recent copies posted on their website.

I'm not sure about a purifier affecting hardness to a great degree. I'd be inclined to filter then add gypsum. I prefer to filter the cholorine & impurities out.

Adding 5g or so of gypsum will be fine. I typically add it to my bitters or hoppier pale ales. It tends to increase the hop bite. For softer maltier styles I don't bother.

[gregb]

Sydney water send an analysis sheet with each bill. Don't recall what details are on it.

Cheers,
Greg