Best way to raise ph in a wash?
Posted:
Wed Feb 04, 2015 7:31 pmby Jonc26uk
Hi
I am prepping a wash and the ph was 6.5 so I added citric acid to lower it but went too far and am now at 4.7. What's the best way to raise it back up to 5.2??
Re: Best way to raise ph in a wash?
Posted:
Wed Feb 04, 2015 7:38 pmby Almanac
Add a little Baking Powder by dissolving a teaspoon of powder in a little of the wash, about a cupful, and then add a little at a time to the wash checking the pH after each addition until you get it to where you want. Stir really thoroughly after each addition before reading the pH again, This should solve the problem for you.
AM
Re: Best way to raise ph in a wash?
Posted:
Sun Feb 08, 2015 11:04 amby Phantom
The "wine world" likes potassium carbonate. As it has the least likely effect on flavour (baking soda, precipitated chalk, etc have, to varying degrees, flavour issues).
It's a bit like using sulphites. Sodium Metabisulphite is fine, it works and at least in the UK, is cheapest, but if used incorrectly, it can leave a metallic off flavour. The US makers (home brewers) use mostly Potassium Metabisulphite instead. It's available here, but it's a bit more expensive and you usually have to get it in poweder form instead of the convenience of "campden tablets" and mix it up as a solution and using it that way.jj
Hence I'm happy to stick to their methods. Of course, it's unlikely that any possible off flavour might come over with the distillate, but I like to be "safe than sorry"........
Re: Best way to raise ph in a wash?
Posted:
Sun Feb 08, 2015 7:37 pmby Almanac
@ Phantom +1
Where a wash pH is too high it's always best to add tiny amounts of acid to correct it. I'd rather make 4 additions of a few grains at a time and get the pH there slowly than one addition moving it too much and having to try to correct the problem.
Of course if you're making a sugar wash it won't make that much difference if the starting pH is a little high as it will naturally come down in the course of fermentation.
AM
