Brew Fort Local Home Brew Supply Store Located in Fort Collins, Colorado

Seltzer

A Brew Fort Guide to Non-Alcoholic Carbonated Beverages

Seltzers, Mineral Water & Soda — Made at Home

Carbonated beverages aren’t just for breweries and soda factories anymore. With the right tools and ingredients, you can make clean, crisp seltzer, balanced mineral water, and old-school or modern sodas right at home. At Brew Fort, we help DIY makers carbonate anything — and this guide breaks it all down in an easy, practical way.

1. Plain Seltzer (Carbonated Water)

What it is:
Seltzer is simply water + CO₂. No minerals, no sugar, no flavoring. It’s clean, refreshing, and incredibly versatile.

Why people love it:

  • Zero calories

  • Perfect base for flavor additions

  • Great for mocktails and mixers

  • Easy to make on tap

Typical Ingredients

  • Filtered water (RO or carbon-filtered is best)

  • CO₂ (food-grade)

  • Optional: citrus zest, fresh fruit, or extracts added after carbonation

5-Gallon Plain Seltzer Recipe

  1. Fill a clean keg with 5 gallons cold water

  2. Chill to 34–38°F (cold water absorbs CO₂ better)

  3. Carbonate to 30–40 PSI

  4. Shake or burst-carbonate if desired

  5. Let rest 24 hours and serve

Optional Flavor Boost (after carbonation):

  • Zest of 1–2 lemons or limes

  • 1–2 tsp natural extract (lemon, grapefruit, cucumber)

2. Mineral Water (Still or Sparkling)

What it is:
Mineral water contains dissolved salts that affect mouthfeel, crispness, and perceived dryness. You’re essentially building water chemistry on purpose.

Why minerals matter:

  • Calcium = firmness and structure

  • Magnesium = crisp bitterness

  • Sodium = softness and perceived sweetness

  • Bicarbonate = smoothness and buffering

Common Mineral Additions

IngredientPurpose
Calcium Chloride (CaCl₂)Soft, round mouthfeel
Calcium Sulfate (Gypsum)Crisp, dry finish
Magnesium Sulfate (Epsom Salt)Light bitterness
Sodium BicarbonateSmoothness, buffering
Sodium Chloride (Salt)Body and flavor lift

⚠️ Use food-grade salts only. A little goes a long way.

5-Gallon Sparkling Mineral Water Recipe (Balanced Style)

  • Calcium Chloride: 0.5 g

  • Gypsum: 0.3 g

  • Magnesium Sulfate: 0.2 g

  • Sodium Bicarbonate: 0.3 g

  • Water: 5 gallons

  • Carbonate to 30 PSI

This creates a clean, European-style mineral water with body and snap.

3. Soda Water (Club Soda)

What it is:
Club soda is carbonated water with added minerals, usually sodium bicarbonate or potassium bicarbonate.

Why it’s different from seltzer:

  • Slightly salty

  • Softer mouthfeel

  • Designed for mixing with syrups or spirits

Typical Additions

  • Sodium bicarbonate

  • Potassium bicarbonate

  • Light calcium additions

5-Gallon Club Soda Recipe

  • Sodium Bicarbonate: 1.0 g

  • Calcium Chloride: 0.4 g

  • Water: 5 gallons

  • Carbonate to 30–35 PSI

4. Soda (Sweet & Flavored)

What it is:
Soda = carbonated water + sugar + flavor. You control sweetness, ingredients, and intensity.

Sweetener Options

  • Cane sugar

  • Corn sugar (dextrose)

  • Honey

  • Agave

  • Monk fruit / stevia blends (non-fermentable)

Flavor Sources

  • Fruit juice or concentrate

  • Botanical extracts

  • Spices (ginger, cinnamon, clove)

  • Herbs (mint, basil)

  • Roots (ginger, sassafras-style blends)

5-Gallon Lemon-Lime Soda Recipe

  1. Dissolve 4–5 lbs sugar in 1 gallon hot water

  2. Add:

    • Zest of 4 lemons

    • Zest of 4 limes

    • Juice of 6 lemons

  3. Cool and strain

  4. Add to keg

  5. Top to 5 gallons with cold water

  6. Carbonate to 30–35 PSI

5-Gallon Ginger Ale Recipe

  1. Boil:

    • 1 lb fresh ginger (grated)

    • 1 gallon water

    • Simmer 20 minutes

  2. Add 4 lbs sugar

  3. Cool and strain

  4. Add to keg

  5. Top to 5 gallons with cold water

  6. Carbonate to 35–40 PSI

Equipment You’ll Want

  • CO₂ tank (we fill & exchange!)

  • Regulator

  • Keg (Corny or commercial)

  • Cold storage (kegerator or fridge)

  • Optional carbonation stone for faster absorption

Why Make It Yourself?

  • Lower cost than canned drinks

  • Total ingredient control

  • Endless customization

  • Zero alcohol, zero compromise

  • Always fresh, always on tap

Brew Fort Can Help

Whether you’re building a seltzer tap, experimenting with mineral water profiles, or crafting your own house soda, Brew Fort has:

  • Food-grade CO₂

  • Kegs & carbonation gear

  • Minerals, extracts, and flavorings

  • Expert advice for dialing it all in

Stop by Brew Fort and turn plain water into something exceptional — one bubble at a time.