I'm beginning to think I need to look into my water chemistry. Do you think a water company report is at least a good place to start and if something seems way off, then get a specialized Ward Labs report? My coop water company is relatively small and I'm sure they'll accommodate me as well as they can, but I worry that even with a report, I may have trouble with consistency.

AZ, what's your take on this?

Yes, get that info. A filter/carbon system might take care of your problem. Then you have a more consistent light water(low on the minerals) that you can build up depending on the mash pH and style.

I use a carbon filter now, which brings up another question. If you get a water report, should you filter your water? Might be a stupid question, but how else would you know what is coming out of your filter?

No, filter the water after the bad report was my thought. Get the report without the filter form your water company. If there is not a problem, look at other things. Get a report with your filtered water from wards. If the filter is working and you have light water, then you just need to adjust the water for your mash and balance the SO:Cl ratio.

Now, I don't know that you have a problem with your water. If I do nothing to my water I still can make great beers (not that they are always great) but by adjusting my yellow beers I'm making a better product. Also, with higher Sulfates in my water I have to adjust sometimes.

Got to get the info at least form your company.

I use strips called Water Works 4 in 1 city water check and Water Works well water check. They are not like a test form Wards but they work good to compare. I'm checking alkalinity, and hardness. It's not the best way but it does show that a friends water on a well has less alkalinity and less hardness. I've also notice that with bought revers osmosis water it has little to no alk or hardness. With the info form my water company, the strips, and EZ water program I've kinda got my system down.

"http://www.labsafety.com/waterworks-water-quality-test-strips_24553254/"

just get the 4in1 if you want to play around.
PS I check chlorine and that could be a problem

I agree, you need to get it tested and then determine path to take from there. An option after the test is to add a sediment filter on with your carbon filter and test again.

I'm going to first request a report from my water company and post it here. Maybe you guys can spot something and then I'll go from there.

Thanks for the help.

Do you guys know of a site that discusses flavor variations in different beer styles as related to particular minerals, or lack thereof.

The last page of Brunwater has a great "water knowledge" section. It's free and written by a professional water engineer who does work for breweries, Sierra Nevada among them.

https://sites.google.com/site/brunwater/

Thanks. Will he answer questions at that email address?

The hotmail address? Yes, he will. Usually very quickly.