Campden tablet
Term from the Brauwerkstatt brewing glossary, category “Brewing water and pH”.
Explanation
Potassium metabisulphite that removes chlorine and chloramine from tap water. One tablet treats about 75 L (about 19.8 gal): crush it, stir it in and wait 10–15 minutes. Only needed if the water smells of chlorine.
Work it out yourself
Brewing water calculator – Adjust your tap water to the beer style: the calculator tells you how much calcium chloride, gypsum and lactic acid you need.
Test your knowledge
What is a Campden tablet used for in brewing?
- It is yeast nutrient
- It provides sugar for bottling
- It removes chlorine and chloramine from tap water
Show answer
Correct: It removes chlorine and chloramine from tap water. Chlorine can cause medicinal off-flavours in beer. One tablet treats many litres of water.
Frequently asked questions
My tap water smells of chlorine. What should I do?
Chlorine and chloramine give beer a medicinal taste. A Campden tablet neutralises both within minutes; the dose is on the pack. Free chlorine also escapes if the water stands open overnight, but chloramine does not.