♨️ Strike Water Temperature Calculator
Enter your target mash temperature, grain temperature and water-to-grain ratio to get the strike water temperature.
Heat your strike water to
73.5 °C
Strike water goes in hotter than the mash target because the cool, dry grain absorbs heat. Palmer's formula: strike = (0.2 ÷ ratio) × (mash − grain) + mash, where 0.2 is grain's heat capacity relative to water. A common ratio is about 3 L/kg (1.5 qt/lb). This assumes a room-temperature tun; a cold metal pot needs a little extra, so preheat it or aim a degree or two higher. 🔒 In your browser.
How the strike water temperature calculator works
When you mix hot strike water with cool, dry grain, the grain absorbs heat and the mixture settles below the water temperature. The tool uses Palmer's infusion equation to work backwards: it heats the water enough above your mash target to land exactly on it once the grain has taken its share of the heat, based on how much water you use per unit of grain.
The formula assumes a mash tun already at room temperature. A cold metal pot or cooler steals extra heat, so preheat it with some hot water first, or aim a degree or two higher and stir well. Metric works in °C and litres per kilogram; imperial in °F and quarts per pound — the 0.2 (or 0.41 metric) constant is grain's heat capacity relative to water.
Frequently asked questions
How do I calculate strike water temperature?
Palmer's formula: strike temp = (0.2 ÷ ratio) × (mash temp − grain temp) + mash temp, where the ratio is water-to-grain in quarts per pound (0.41 and litres per kilogram in metric). The tool handles both unit systems.
Why is strike water hotter than the mash temperature?
Because the cool, dry grain absorbs heat when you add it, pulling the mixture down. You start the water hotter so that, after the grain takes its share, the mash settles at your target temperature.
What water-to-grain ratio should I use?
A common single-infusion ratio is about 3 L/kg (1.5 qt/lb) — thinner ratios need less-hot water, thicker ones more. The ratio also subtly affects the mash; 2.5–3.5 L/kg is a typical range.
My mash came in too low — why?
Usually the tun or grain was colder than assumed, or the grain wasn't at the temperature you entered. Preheat the mash tun, measure the grain temperature, and if you consistently land low, aim a degree or two higher. Stir to even out hot and cold spots.
Does the mash tun material matter?
Yes. A pre-warmed cooler holds temperature well and matches the formula's assumption; a cold metal pot absorbs noticeable heat and will drop your mash below target unless you preheat it or add a little to the strike temperature.