Help

Get advice on making beer from raw ingredients (malt, hops, water and yeast)
Bedders1802
Steady Drinker
Posts: 41
Joined: Sat May 23, 2020 11:02 am

Help

Post by Bedders1802 » Fri Jan 15, 2021 5:31 pm

Hi all

I have just brewed an export porter and noticed a strong burnt wood smell. When I run off to my fermenter I noticed the element was caked in black stuff which will not come off. Ditch the brew?

Many thanks
Bedders

guypettigrew
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Location: Christchurch, Dorset

Re: Help

Post by guypettigrew » Fri Jan 15, 2021 5:55 pm

Definitely don't ditch the brew. Ferment as usual. It should be fine.

What grains did you use, and was there any sugar in it?

Guy

Bedders1802
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Posts: 41
Joined: Sat May 23, 2020 11:02 am

Re: Help

Post by Bedders1802 » Fri Jan 15, 2021 6:05 pm

4500g Maris otter
420g each of 12l crystal, chocolate, and brown malt
200g black malt
Brambling cross leaf hops in muslin bags.

I also added 500g light spray malt during the boil which I just tipped in slowly

Bedders1802
Steady Drinker
Posts: 41
Joined: Sat May 23, 2020 11:02 am

Re: Help

Post by Bedders1802 » Fri Jan 15, 2021 6:06 pm

Edit above
120l crystal malt

guypettigrew
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Location: Christchurch, Dorset

Re: Help

Post by guypettigrew » Fri Jan 15, 2021 6:40 pm

Should have a nice strong porter there!

Possibly not enough stirring as the wort came to the boil, or when the spray malt was added.

The beer will be fine. But you need a way to clean the element.

Do you have any sodium percarbonate or similar? It will clean the element and get it as good as new.

Guy

Bedders1802
Steady Drinker
Posts: 41
Joined: Sat May 23, 2020 11:02 am

Re: Help

Post by Bedders1802 » Fri Jan 15, 2021 7:04 pm

Thanks guy
Will the strong burnt smell disappear and will it taste burnt do you know

guypettigrew
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Joined: Mon Mar 22, 2010 7:10 pm
Location: Christchurch, Dorset

Re: Help

Post by guypettigrew » Fri Jan 15, 2021 7:09 pm

My guess is the burnt smell/taste will contribute positively to the final flavour.

Fermentation could well take some of the smell out as the CO2 bubbles up through the beer.

Don't give up on it!

Guy

Bedders1802
Steady Drinker
Posts: 41
Joined: Sat May 23, 2020 11:02 am

Re: Help

Post by Bedders1802 » Fri Jan 15, 2021 7:18 pm

This was only my 4th brew so I am new to it all. Many thanks

Bedders1802
Steady Drinker
Posts: 41
Joined: Sat May 23, 2020 11:02 am

Re: Help

Post by Bedders1802 » Tue Feb 16, 2021 2:09 am

Just to let you know, my porter has turned out really nice and most of the burnt taste and smell has gone. What remained has added a good flavour so I am happy.
Many thanks
Bedders

guypettigrew
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Joined: Mon Mar 22, 2010 7:10 pm
Location: Christchurch, Dorset

Re: Help

Post by guypettigrew » Tue Feb 16, 2021 9:01 am

Excellent news! Have you managed to clean the element in your boiler?

Guy

Kingfisher4
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Joined: Tue Jun 27, 2017 11:03 pm
Location: Derbyshire, UK

Re: Help

Post by Kingfisher4 » Tue Feb 16, 2021 9:38 am

Barkeepers friend is excellent for cleaning residue of stainless steel vessels. I have found the cream version best. Needs a good shake.

Bedders1802
Steady Drinker
Posts: 41
Joined: Sat May 23, 2020 11:02 am

Re: Help

Post by Bedders1802 » Tue Feb 16, 2021 7:43 pm

Yes I managed to get it off thanks

micmacmoc
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Posts: 64
Joined: Thu Jul 12, 2018 12:49 pm

Re: Help

Post by micmacmoc » Fri Mar 12, 2021 4:17 pm

Glad I read this, found a pack of barkeepers friend this morning during a Chuck the crap away session, cheers....wondered what I had bought it for!

McMullan

Re: Help

Post by McMullan » Fri Mar 12, 2021 7:14 pm

Kingfisher4 wrote:
Tue Feb 16, 2021 9:38 am
Barkeepers friend is excellent for cleaning residue of stainless steel vessels. I have found the cream version best. Needs a good shake.
Isn't it a 'polish'? Is it recommended for use inside kettles? Just saying because I was a bit shocked by some BrewTools fanboy who was on PooTube claiming how brilliant it was for cleaning the inside of his kegs and BrewTools thingy. I bet he sprayed it on his cock too.

McMullan

Re: Help

Post by McMullan » Fri Mar 12, 2021 7:54 pm

Weird, 59 'guests'. Or was that BrewTools bots?

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