Carbonates can result in less fermentable worts, unacceptable wort colors, difficulties in filtration, and less efficient separation of protein and tannin elements in hot and cold breaks.

Common Values for Hardness

  Barley Malted Barley Wort US Tapwater Pilsen Water Burton-on-Trent Water Brewing Targets Levels in Beer
Hardness ... ... 320 - 470 ... ... ... ... ...