Strike Water Temperature Calculator
Calculate the exact temperature for your strike water to hit your target mash temperature, accounting for grain temperature and mash thickness.
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How It Works
The strike water temperature formula Tw = (0.2/R)(T2 - T1) + T2 accounts for the thermal mass of the grain absorbing heat from the water. The constant 0.2 is the specific heat of grain relative to water. A thinner mash (higher qt/lb ratio) requires lower strike water temperature because there is more water relative to grain. Conversely, a thicker mash needs hotter strike water. Most mash tuns also absorb some heat, so you may need to add 2-5 degrees F on top of the calculated temperature, depending on your equipment. Pre-heating the mash tun with boiling water helps minimize this effect.