Strike Water Temperature Calculator
Find the temperature to heat your mash water so the grain settles at your target rest temperature, plus the total water volume, using Palmer's formula.
How to calculate strike water temperature
- Enter your grain weight and mash thickness in quarts per pound.
- Enter the grain temperature and the mash rest you want to hit.
- Heat your water to the strike temperature shown, then mash in.
Examples
Single infusion mash
1.5 qt/lb, grain 70 F, target 152 F, 10 lb
Strike 162.9 F, 15 qt (3.75 gal)
Frequently asked questions
What is the strike water formula?
Palmer's formula is strike = (0.2 / r) x (target - grain temp) + target, where r is quarts of water per pound of grain and 0.2 is the grain heat ratio.
Why is strike water hotter than the mash rest?
Cool, dry grain absorbs heat as you mash in. The water must start above the target so the mix settles at your chosen rest temperature.
What mash thickness should I use?
A ratio of about 1.25 to 1.5 quarts per pound is common. Thinner mashes need a slightly higher strike temperature to reach the same rest.
Does my kettle or tun affect the result?
Yes. A cold mash tun pulls heat from the water, so preheat it or aim a degree or two higher than the formula suggests.
How many gallons of water do I need?
The tool multiplies your ratio by the grain weight for quarts, then divides by four for gallons. Add separate sparge water on top of this.
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