Strike Water Temperature Calculator
Strike water temperature to hit your mash target, plus infusion water for step mashes.
Strike temperature
Same unit as above
≈ qt/lb × 2.086
Strike at -
Step-mash infusion
Add - L
How it works
Both figures come from a heat balance between the grain and the water. Grain has roughly 0.38 times the thermal mass of an equal weight of water, so the strike water must run hotter than the mash target to settle at the right temperature once the grain is in.
strike T = mash T + (0.38 / ratio) × (mash T − grain T)
infusion L = (target − current) × (0.38·grain + water) / (infusion T − target)
Source: John Palmer, How to Brew §3.
Assumes a pre-heated tun. A cold mash tun steals heat - preheat it, or aim a degree or two higher.
Frequently asked questions
- What temperature should my strike water be?
- Hotter than your target mash temperature, because the cool, dry grain absorbs heat. How much hotter depends on the grain temperature and your water-to-grain ratio - a thinner mash needs less of a boost. Enter all three for the exact strike temperature.
- What water-to-grain ratio should I use?
- Around 2.5–3.5 litres per kilogram (about 1.2–1.7 quarts per pound) is typical for a single-infusion mash. Thinner mashes are easier to stir and stabilise; thicker mashes leave more room for sparge water.
- How do I hit a step-mash temperature?
- Use the infusion section: enter your current mash temperature, the grain and water already in the tun, and the temperature of the water you will add, and it returns how much near-boiling water to infuse to reach the next step.