A golden Czech lager with rich malt sweetness balanced by soft, spicy Saaz hop character.
The target has a sulfate-to-chloride ratio of 0.4:1 (very malty, round, sweet) - the balance that shapes how hoppy or malty the beer tastes.
| Ion | Target (ppm) |
|---|---|
| Calcium (Ca²⁺) | 25 |
| Magnesium (Mg²⁺) | 3 |
| Sodium (Na⁺) | 5 |
| Chloride (Cl⁻) | 40 |
| Sulfate (SO₄²⁻) | 15 |
| Bicarbonate (HCO₃⁻) | 15 |
Water target is a strong practical fit for the style family. Use as an RO starting point, then verify mash pH from the actual grist.
Salts to add to reverse-osmosis or distilled water to reach this target, calculated by the BrewWaterSolver solver with the most common homebrew salts (calcium chloride, gypsum, Epsom salt, chalk and baking soda).
| Salt | 5 gal (18.9 L) | 20 L |
|---|---|---|
| Calcium chloride (CaCl₂) | 1.44 g | 1.52 g |
| Gypsum (CaSO₄) | 0.12 g | 0.13 g |
| Epsom salt (MgSO₄) | 0.49 g | 0.52 g |
| Chalk (CaCO₃) | 0.09 g | 0.10 g |
| Baking soda (NaHCO₃) | 0.16 g | 0.17 g |
Resulting water: Ca 27.1, Mg 3.6, Na 5.3, Cl 39.7, SO4 14.7, HCO3 15 ppm. Split the salts between mash and sparge water in the solver if you prefer.
With RO water and the salts above, a typical Bohemian Pilsner grist is predicted to mash at pH 5.74, against a target of 5.30 (pale color - lower pH enhances crispness). To bring it down, add about 8.3 mL of 88% lactic acid for 5 gal (8.8 mL for 20 L).
Estimated from the style's typical color (SRM 3.5) without a real grain bill - enter your recipe in the solver for a sharper prediction, and always check with a pH meter.
Czech-Style Pale Lager - these BA styles use the same water target.