Stop using the garden hose!

[BS]

I brew outside on a 10 gallon system, using municipal water from my garden hose filtered through a carbon filter cartridge. I have always had a problem with a little phenolic (plastic-type) off flavor in my lighter beers, and get dinged for it in competition. My hefeweizens have been particularly bad for years. My sanitation is good, though, and I couldn't track down the source of the problem.

Then I listened to the archived show where Dr. Scott talks about "hose flavor" from garden hose water, and suggests using white RV hose instead. (I said "hose".). I bought such a hose and brewed a pale ale with water using it and not the garden hose. I just brewed a pale ale and sampled it for the first time yesterday, and - clean. Phenolic gone.

Looking back, my hefeweizens went from perfect when I did a partial mash and used Arrowhead jug water to crap when I went outside and used the hose. If you're on the fence about this issue, get off the fence and get yourself an RV potable water hose. It will improve your beer significantly.

[Thirsty Mallard]

Congrats on finding the problem!

Where do you get the carbon filters that hook directly to your water spigot from?

I want to start using filtered water myself.

[Push Eject]

Congrats on finding the problem!

Where do you get the carbon filters that hook directly to your water spigot from?

I want to start using filtered water myself.

Home centers have them.

[BS]

You can get the filter unit and the cartridge from Morebeer.com. It's a plastic assembly about 12" long and 4" wide, with garden-hose style connections.

[SunkenBier]

I use the filter unit from more beer. THe filter is good for up to 750 gallons. It is nice because I make my beer water and water for my salt water fish tanks with it and both come out nice. I put a Y bracket on the hose spigot so one goes to the hose and the other goes to the water filter.

[brewcrew]

I was thinking of moving to the garden hose for convenience. What if I remove the hose and just use the water straight from the faucet? Will this be okay or will I still get off flavors?

[bub]

you will be ok... or buy a RV hose...it is food grade that way and less off flavor
Bub

[Steve]

I brew outside on a 10 gallon system, using municipal water from my garden hose filtered through a carbon filter cartridge. I have always had a problem with a little phenolic (plastic-type) off flavor in my lighter beers, and get dinged for it in competition. My hefeweizens have been particularly bad for years. My sanitation is good, though, and I couldn't track down the source of the problem.

Then I listened to the archived show where Dr. Scott talks about "hose flavor" from garden hose water, and suggests using white RV hose instead. (I said "hose".). I bought such a hose and brewed a pale ale with water using it and not the garden hose. I just brewed a pale ale and sampled it for the first time yesterday, and - clean. Phenolic gone.

Looking back, my hefeweizens went from perfect when I did a partial mash and used Arrowhead jug water to crap when I went outside and used the hose. If you're on the fence about this issue, get off the fence and get yourself an RV potable water hose. It will improve your beer significantly.

It's also important to think about the quality of your water. Some municipalities employ chloramines as the general sanitizer and that doesn't come out so easily. Some think boiling will do it, not so! Boiling will drive off some of the free chlorine but a majority of it has bonded with the ammonia and needs to be treated with a campden tablet, one per twenty gallons, in order to then boil it and make it suitable for brewing.
Afterwards it would be a good idea to avoid useing a regular garden hose. As most of the guys have already suggested an RV hose is the better choice and you won't pick up those "vinyl"flavors".

Steve