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How do I use ACCUmash?
Obtain 1.5 quarts of purified water (RO or distilled) per pound of grain to be mashed, blend the entire package’s content into a pound of dry grain. Add the mixture to mash water. Stir vigorously to ensure that ACCUmash is completely dissolved. Add the remaining grain. DO NOT add ACCUmash directly to the water by itself (This is really just for basic chemistry safety). It is typically not recommended to add a base or acid directly to water. We want to be safe as possible even if it seems like overkill.
Can I use ACCUmash in extract batches?
As much as we would like to see a packet of ACCUmash used in every batch of beer brewed, it would be a waste of the brewer’s money to buy a packet of ACCUmash for an extract batch. The maltster has designed the extract in such a way that the minerals needed for yeast and a quality balanced beer are already present. If you are using RO or distilled water, you may still want to add some calcium or magnesium for yeast health. You may want to consider adding a little sulfate for a hoppier beer or calcium chloride for a malty beer. It would be impossible to design a product that would add enough minerals for an all grain mash, but not over add chemicals when brewing an extract. If someone is saying that a single product is good for both applications, they are misleading the brewer by either over adding for extract brewing or under adding for all grain brewing.
Can I use ACCUmash for BIAB (Brew in a Bag) batch?
Although we have not exhaustively tested this method, several brewers are reporting success with the method outlined below. Select the appropriate ACCUmash packet and make sure the packet is very well mixed. Then scale down the packet of ACCUmash proportionally to the size of your batch. For instance, if you are brewing a 3-gallon batch, you would use 3/5 of your packet of ACCUmash (use a scale if available to help accuracy). Once you have scaled down your packet, add the scaled down portion of ACCUmash to your grain per the instructions on the back of the packet. Monitor your pH, and slowly add more while monitoring your pH until your desired pH is met or is no longer moving in the correct direction. Wait 5 minutes between each addition and pH measurement (remember all pH measurements should be done at room temperature even if you have an autocorrect pH probe). At that point make a small acid or base adjustment if necessary to get you closer to your desired pH.
If you don’t have a pH meter, don’t worry, just scale down as outlined above and add per the instructions on the back of the packet. It is certainly an improvement over not making any adjustment to your water or using tap water alone without treatment. ACCUmash has run multiple experiments on every formulation at a standard 5-gallon batch size. The basic minerals should be close if you scale down as suggested.
What do I need to do to make adjustments to my sparge water? ent deals
In most cases no adjustment is needed, but don’t take our word for it, research it for yourself. The necessity of making adjustments to your sparge water depends on your set up and your sparge practices. For instance, if you batch sparge it is typically not necessary to adjust your sparge water. If you use a continuous sparge, it really depends on what you choose as your sparge stopping point to determine if you need to adjust your sparge pH. Check out the following references on good sparge water practices:
Should I use RO or distilled water for my sparge water?
Yes; you want to eliminate the variability that tap water and spring water introduce into your beer even in your sparge water. By using Reverse Osmosis (RO) or distilled water in your sparge, you are ensuring that you are using blank palette for your water and are adding in the proper minerals for the type of beer you are brewing with your ACCUmash packet. If you use tap water or spring water in your sparge, you could be reintroducing minerals (or contaminates like chlorine/chloramine) and change the water profile that ends up in your wort/final beer. See “Why do I need to use RO water or Distilled? Couldn’t I use tap?”
Should I use RO or distilled water for my mash too?
Yes; for the same reasons as not using tap water in your mash. See “Why do I need to use RO water or Distilled? Couldn’t I use tap?”