# When to measure mash pH... **URL:** \ **Category:** Brewing Processes\ **Created:** [February 21, 2015, 12:08am UTC](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/t/when-to-measure-mash-ph/19213 "2015-02-21T00:08:22Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![pmorrissette](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/brewersassociation/user_avatar/forum.homebrewersassociation.org/pmorrissette/32/2952_2.png) [@pmorrissette](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/u/pmorrissette)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2015, 12:08am UTC](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/t/when-to-measure-mash-ph/19213/1 "2015-02-21T00:08:22Z")
So, as I understand it, mash pH varies with time. When is the best time to get a “general” reading? ---
**Author:** ![quattlebaum](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/brewersassociation/user_avatar/forum.homebrewersassociation.org/quattlebaum/32/1217_2.png) [@quattlebaum](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/u/quattlebaum)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2015, 1:45am UTC](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/t/when-to-measure-mash-ph/19213/2 "2015-02-21T01:45:47Z")
I take mine at 10 to 15 min ---
**Author:** ![pmorrissette](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/brewersassociation/user_avatar/forum.homebrewersassociation.org/pmorrissette/32/2952_2.png) [@pmorrissette](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/u/pmorrissette)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2015, 2:38am UTC](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/t/when-to-measure-mash-ph/19213/3 "2015-02-21T02:38:27Z")
That’s when I measured pH in my last batch. I’m just curious about at what time other brewers aim to hit their target pH. ---
**Author:** ![mainebrewer](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/brewersassociation/user_avatar/forum.homebrewersassociation.org/mainebrewer/32/19_2.png) [@mainebrewer](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/u/mainebrewer)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2015, 11:37am UTC](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/t/when-to-measure-mash-ph/19213/4 "2015-02-21T11:37:17Z")
I also check the pH 10-15 min after beginning the mash. ---
**Author:** ![majorvices](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/brewersassociation/user_avatar/forum.homebrewersassociation.org/majorvices/32/12825_2.png) [@majorvices](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/u/majorvices)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2015, 11:50am UTC](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/t/when-to-measure-mash-ph/19213/5 "2015-02-21T11:50:37Z")
10-15 for me, too. ---
**Author:** ![hopfenundmalz](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/brewersassociation/user_avatar/forum.homebrewersassociation.org/hopfenundmalz/32/11193_2.png) [@hopfenundmalz](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/u/hopfenundmalz)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2015, 12:33pm UTC](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/t/when-to-measure-mash-ph/19213/6 "2015-02-21T12:33:23Z")
Mash in, stir, check/adjust temp, stir some more. Gee, it is 10-15 minutes in, time to check the pH. ---
**Author:** ![wort-h.o.g](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/brewersassociation/user_avatar/forum.homebrewersassociation.org/wort-h.o.g/32/11975_2.png) [@wort-h.o.g](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/u/wort-h.o.g)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2015, 12:42pm UTC](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/t/when-to-measure-mash-ph/19213/7 "2015-02-21T12:42:50Z")
take it at around 5 minutes…then again around 10-15 and tell me the variance. EDIT:  reason i asked is because done this many times making sure about my PH. just this morning, I took my mash in PH at around 5 minutes as usual. it was 5.35.  just collected the wort and read PH…5.36. (that’s before any sparge water) for me, i just like to get everything mixed well and that takes about 5 minutes. I immediately take my sample for PH, and then make any needed adjustments, and keep stirring until i get to desired mash temp…all within 10  minutes of time. ---
**Author:** ![wyobrew](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/brewersassociation/user_avatar/forum.homebrewersassociation.org/wyobrew/32/10113_2.png) [@wyobrew](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/u/wyobrew)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2015, 3:19pm UTC](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/t/when-to-measure-mash-ph/19213/8 "2015-02-21T15:19:29Z")
What if it needs adjusted? Hasn’t a lot of the conversion taken place by 15 min? I recently started checking mine at 10-15 like you all say and it has been OK. I just wonder what to do if it’s not. I’m usually about 30 in by the time it’s cool and checked so I figured it’s too late to do anything other than take a note for next time. ---
**Author:** ![wort-h.o.g](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/brewersassociation/user_avatar/forum.homebrewersassociation.org/wort-h.o.g/32/11975_2.png) [@wort-h.o.g](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/u/wort-h.o.g)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2015, 3:34pm UTC](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/t/when-to-measure-mash-ph/19213/9 "2015-02-21T15:34:31Z")
> [@wyobrew](#): > > What if it needs adjusted? Hasn’t a lot of the conversion taken place by 15 min? I recently started checking mine at 10-15 like you all say and it has been OK. I just wonder what to do if it’s not. I’m usually about 30 in by the time it’s cool and checked so I figured it’s too late to do anything other than take a note for next time. That’s why at 5 minutes is my method. ---
**Author:** ![pmorrissette](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/brewersassociation/user_avatar/forum.homebrewersassociation.org/pmorrissette/32/2952_2.png) [@pmorrissette](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/u/pmorrissette)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2015, 5:25pm UTC](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/t/when-to-measure-mash-ph/19213/10 "2015-02-21T17:25:58Z")
Didn’t see the responses in time to take two sample, instead just took one sample at 10 minutes. Mash had a pH of 6.01.  \>:( I’m brewing an Irish stout, FYI. I have really alkaline water, pH of 8.0, 155 ppm HC03. Getting my pH right in a full-volume mash BIAB has been a pain… ---
**Author:** ![wort-h.o.g](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/brewersassociation/user_avatar/forum.homebrewersassociation.org/wort-h.o.g/32/11975_2.png) [@wort-h.o.g](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/u/wort-h.o.g)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2015, 5:30pm UTC](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/t/when-to-measure-mash-ph/19213/11 "2015-02-21T17:30:40Z")
> [@](#): > > Didn’t see the responses in time to take two sample, instead just took one sample at 10 minutes. > > Mash had a pH of 6.01.  \>:( I’m brewing an Irish stout, FYI. > > I have really alkaline water, pH of 8.0, 155 ppm HC03. Getting my pH right in a full-volume mash BIAB has been a pain… are you using water software for brewing profile…like bru’nwater for example? ---
**Author:** ![pmorrissette](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/brewersassociation/user_avatar/forum.homebrewersassociation.org/pmorrissette/32/2952_2.png) [@pmorrissette](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/u/pmorrissette)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2015, 5:39pm UTC](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/t/when-to-measure-mash-ph/19213/12 "2015-02-21T17:39:48Z")
This was part of an experiment on how well Beersmith works for that…either it doesn’t, or I’m not using it correctly. ---
**Author:** ![jonhughey\_att.net](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/brewersassociation/user_avatar/forum.homebrewersassociation.org/jonhughey_att.net/32/6277_2.png) [@jonhughey\_att.net](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/u/jonhughey_att.net)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2015, 5:41pm UTC](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/t/when-to-measure-mash-ph/19213/13 "2015-02-21T17:41:55Z")
+1 to Bru’nwater.  Makes all the difference. ---
**Author:** ![macbrews](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/brewersassociation/user_avatar/forum.homebrewersassociation.org/macbrews/32/19_2.png) [@macbrews](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/u/macbrews)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2015, 6:08pm UTC](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/t/when-to-measure-mash-ph/19213/14 "2015-02-21T18:08:58Z")
> [@wyobrew](#): > > What if it needs adjusted? Hasn’t a lot of the conversion taken place by 15 min? I recently started checking mine at 10-15 like you all say and it has been OK. I just wonder what to do if it’s not. I’m usually about 30 in by the time it’s cool and checked so I figured it’s too late to do anything other than take a note for next time. Get a test tube, fill it with the wort and put it in a glass of ice water.  It is ready to check the pH in about 1 minute.  Works great. Mac ---
**Author:** ![wort-h.o.g](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/brewersassociation/user_avatar/forum.homebrewersassociation.org/wort-h.o.g/32/11975_2.png) [@wort-h.o.g](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/u/wort-h.o.g)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2015, 6:20pm UTC](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/t/when-to-measure-mash-ph/19213/15 "2015-02-21T18:20:32Z")
here is Kai’s advice on mash PH, and I have been very happy with results : [http://braukaiser.com/blog/blog/2011/03/02/about-ph-targets-and-temperature/](http://braukaiser.com/blog/blog/2011/03/02/about-ph-targets-and-temperature/) _“And to answer the question that is most interesting to brewers, I believe that the optimal mash pH range is 5.3-5.5 for light beers and 5.4-5.6 for darker beers when testing a room temperature sample of the mash. This pH range is a good compromise between optimal enzyme activity, good boil pH and good cast-out wort pH.”_ When I want a little bump either direction, I will do that in the kettle. If i get my mash to fall in his guidelines above for lighter and darker beers, I generally leave PH alone in the mash. ---
**Author:** ![pmorrissette](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/brewersassociation/user_avatar/forum.homebrewersassociation.org/pmorrissette/32/2952_2.png) [@pmorrissette](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/u/pmorrissette)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2015, 7:32pm UTC](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/t/when-to-measure-mash-ph/19213/16 "2015-02-21T19:32:29Z")
I’ve been aiming for between 5.2-5.6 per Gordon Strongs Brewing Better Beers. After taking that sample, I added more gypsum/calcium choride and took another sample at the 40 minute mark, pH was down to 5.7. I’ll call that acceptable, and try and either fix my beersmith process or use Bru’n water next time. ---
**Author:** ![wort-h.o.g](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/brewersassociation/user_avatar/forum.homebrewersassociation.org/wort-h.o.g/32/11975_2.png) [@wort-h.o.g](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/u/wort-h.o.g)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2015, 7:41pm UTC](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/t/when-to-measure-mash-ph/19213/17 "2015-02-21T19:41:17Z")
> [@](#): > > I’ve been aiming for between 5.2-5.6 per Gordon Strongs Brewing Better Beers. > > After taking that sample, I added more gypsum/calcium choride and took another sample at the 40 minute mark, pH was down to 5.7. I’ll call that acceptable, and try and either fix my beersmith process or use Bru’n water next time. Recommend getting some lactic acid for ph reductions, and take a look at bru’nwater. ---
**Author:** ![pmorrissette](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/brewersassociation/user_avatar/forum.homebrewersassociation.org/pmorrissette/32/2952_2.png) [@pmorrissette](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/u/pmorrissette)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2015, 7:56pm UTC](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/t/when-to-measure-mash-ph/19213/18 "2015-02-21T19:56:07Z")
I’ve got some phosphoric acid, so I’m set in that regard. I’ll try Bru’n water on my next batch, and reference that with Beersmith, maybe I can figure out where I went wrong. Sooner or later I’ll buy a RO system, I’m sure that will help too… ---
**Author:** ![wort-h.o.g](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/brewersassociation/user_avatar/forum.homebrewersassociation.org/wort-h.o.g/32/11975_2.png) [@wort-h.o.g](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/u/wort-h.o.g)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2015, 8:23pm UTC](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/t/when-to-measure-mash-ph/19213/19 "2015-02-21T20:23:11Z")
> [@](#): > > I’ve got some phosphoric acid, so I’m set in that regard. I’ll try Bru’n water on my next batch, and reference that with Beersmith, maybe I can figure out where I went wrong. > > Sooner or later I’ll buy a RO system, I’m sure that will help too… sounds like a good plan. might be stating the obvious but will throw out that your PH reading is only as good as the accuracy of your meter. making sure its calibrated gives you confidence your readings are accurate, and prevents any frustration and tinkering for nothing. ---
**Author:** ![pmorrissette](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/brewersassociation/user_avatar/forum.homebrewersassociation.org/pmorrissette/32/2952_2.png) [@pmorrissette](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/u/pmorrissette)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2015, 8:28pm UTC](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/t/when-to-measure-mash-ph/19213/20 "2015-02-21T20:28:43Z")
Here’s the one I’ve got: [http://www.amazon.com/Etekcity®-Accuracy-Measurement-Resolution-Handheld/dp/B00FJFEB2O/ref=sr\_1\_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1424550442&sr=8-1&keywords=pH+meter](http://www.amazon.com/Etekcity%C2%AE-Accuracy-Measurement-Resolution-Handheld/dp/B00FJFEB2O/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1424550442&sr=8-1&keywords=pH+meter) Last calibrated it about a month ago. I usually check it against my tap water, which has a known pH of 8.0 before using it. So far it still reads 8.0 when I do. (Yes, I make sure the sample is as close to 70\* as possible.) [Next page](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/t/when-to-measure-mash-ph/19213.md?page=2)