Shelf life of wheat beer

[Neal]

Hi All,

I made some wheat beer on the 13th June and I still have quite a few bottles left. I opened one last night and its gone decidedly lambic (gueuze-like, I'd say - extremely fizzy, crystal clear and tastes somewhere between cider and champagne). I opened another three and they're all the same. I wouldn't say my sterilisation was any less thorough for this batch than any others and I've never had a serious infection in six years of brewing.

Does weiss generally have a short shelf life?

It's not completely unpleasant so I might keep a few just to see what happens, but I just wondered if anyone had drunk their wheat beer as slowly as me and suffered this side-effect?

[mysterio]

Weizen yeast is supposed to be more prone to autolysis, although I can't say I have had any problems in that respect. This is one of the reasons commercial producers filter and bottle with lager yeast.

Your problem doesnt sound liky autolysis, though - almost certainly an infection. I would replace your plastic equipment and double check your sanitation procedures.

[oblivious]

Never had a problem, they may not stay fresh or the lenght as other beer or may not age as well as other but the suggestion of Lambic suggest brett, pedio and other bugs