unit 3 lesson 4 Flashcards
What is the minimum requirement for brewing water?
Potable water
Potable water is fit for human consumption.
What is product water?
Water used in making beer or in contact with the beer during the brewing process
Sometimes referred to as ‘brewing liquor’.
What key factors influence the quality of product water?
Hardness, alkalinity, and mineral composition
These factors are crucial for producing specific beer styles.
How does source water affect the final beer?
It influences the quantity of different minerals found in the water
These minerals can affect the flavour and quality of the final beer.
Name three microbiological bacteria and their parameters for product water?
Bouns question: what are the likely source of these bacteria?
Enterococci
E. coli
Coliform
should all be at 0
Contamination by human waste, sewage or storm water.
What impact can Aluminium have in product water?
bonus question: what is the suggested level in product water?
Aluminium can be problematic in cooling water systems.
< 0.2 mg/L
What compounds in product water suggest that there is contamination from mining or heavy industry?
bonus question: What is the maximum concentration for each compound?
Arsenic, Bromate, Cadmium, Chromium, Cyanide, Fluoride, Lead, Mercury,
0.01 mg/L Arsenic
0.01 mg/L Bromate
0.005 mg/L Cadmium
0.05 mg/L Chromium
0.05 mg/L Cyanide
1.5mg/L Fluoride
0.01mg/L Lead
0.001 mg/L Mercury
What are the positive and negative effect can Copper have in beer?
Bonus question: What are the suggested levels for product water?
Postitive:
Small amounts can reduce sulphides in wort and H2S (Hydrogen sulfide) in beer
Essential nutrient for yeast.
Bonus question: suggested levels for product water? Under 1mg/L
Negative:
Inhibits enzymes and becomes toxic to yeast at levels > 10 mg/L.
Oxidation catalyst in beer, affecting flavour and colloidal stability.
What are the different sources through which nitrate and nitrite contaminate water?
Bonus question: what affect can each have if found in brewing water?
Nitrate: Indicates contamination from agricultural runoff, such as fertilizers and animal waste.
Nitrite: Indicates contamination from wastewater or sewage.
Nitrates can be reduced to nitrites by microorganisms.
Nitrate can also affect fermentation rates
Nitrites are poisonous to yeast cells.
What are 5 impacts of high levels of Iron in brewing water?
Can cause incomplete saccharification and contribute metallic flavour
Oxidation catalyst in beer affecting flavour and colloidal stability.
Discolouration of foam.
Can inhibit yeast and produces beers lacking body and insipid in flavour.
Can contribute a metallic flavour to beer.
Can lead to corrosion of stainless steel piping.
What mineral is thought to enhance hop character and dryness in beer?
Bonus: What is considered a high level and what effect does it have?
Sulphate
High levels (> 400 mg/L) can cause unpleasant bitterness.
What is the suggested level for Calcium in brewing water?
50-150 mg/L
What is the significance of the Chloride:Sulphate ratio?
Influences final beer flavour
A ratio of 2:1 enhances body and sweetness, while 1:2 increases bitterness.
Fill in the blank: High alkalinity can raise the _______.
mash pH
True or False: Chlorine is beneficial in high levels for brewing.
False
Chlorine can cause off-flavours and be toxic to yeast.
What is the suggested level of Zinc in brewing water?
0.1-0.5 mg/L
High levels (> 5 mg/L) can cause an astringent flavour.
What can excessive levels of Magnesium cause in beer?
A sour/bitter taste
Very high levels can have a laxative effect.
What role does Calcium play in yeast health?
Essential for yeast flocculation
Promotes binding of yeast cells.
What is colloidal stability in beer?
Presence of one substance suspended in another
High stability means no haze, low stability suggests hazy beer.
What does colloidal stability refer to in beer?
Colloidal stability refers to ‘haze’ in the beer, indicating the presence of substances suspended in another.
What does high colloidal stability mean for beer?
High colloidal stability means that the beer has no haze.
What does low colloidal stability suggest about beer?
Low colloidal stability suggests that the beer is hazy.
How does calcium affect yeast in beer brewing?
Calcium promotes yeast flocculation, helping to remove yeast suspended within the wort/beer, thus clarifying the beer.
What is the effect of calcium and magnesium on wort clarification?
Calcium and magnesium improve protein and polyphenol interactions, forming ‘hot break’, which improves wort clarification.