AG#4 - Probably rancid vinegar

[Naich]

I just kegged it and, while it's not going to win any awards, it's drinkable. But there is a background note of acidity which could be the first signs of it going off, although it could just be the bitterness of the yeast on my jaded palate. We'll see. I think I'll call it "Futterly Ucked". Oh, and I dropped the siphon tube (wet end) on the floor just as I started transferring it (I wouldn't expect anything else with this brew) - "sod it" I thought, and lobbed it back in.

[Naich]

Next time.... When you might not be so lucky... Rather than boil for another 15 minutes to drive off the dead wood/ bugs (and also hops) you could have considered adding campden tablets instead.

If I make the same mistake again I'll give up making beer for good I seem to be in cockup mode at the moment, brewing and otherwise.

I didn't drop any wood in mine which fermented at similar temps and it tastes like sh1t!

I think getting the chiller in after 24 hours probably stopped it being undrinkable. If I hadn't let it get up that high in the first place it would have been quite nice. It's definitely too sweet and there are unwanted flavours in there. I'm going to get another brew going in a fortnight so I've got a backup if this one goes totally titsup.

[Naich]

Now I'm waiting for the fermenter to split or a nuclear war to start or something... This is cursed beer.

Yup. The keg split. I came back from holiday to find damp patches on the kitchen ceiling and the keg about 1/2 full. There's a fracture in the bottom where it's slowly leaking out.

[Befuddler]

Now I'm waiting for the fermenter to split or a nuclear war to start or something... This is cursed beer.

Yup. The keg split. I came back from holiday to find damp patches on the kitchen ceiling and the keg about 1/2 full. There's a fracture in the bottom where it's slowly leaking out.

I think you've about used up your bad luck now.. The next one should be awesome.

[Naich]

The worst bit is that beer itself has actually come out quite well. It's a well-balanced malty brew which is comparable bottled beer - it's as good as Speckled Hen, for example. Well, I think it is. I've got the traditional cold (as I had for the last 2 brews) now it's almost ready for drinking, which has killed off about 60% of my tasting ability.

I've salvaged 18 bottles and the pint I'm drinking now. The keg is now flat with about 4L left in it, which shows that it wasn't over-pressurised. I've just found the receipt so I'm going to try for a replacement.

[Befuddler]

The keg is now flat with about 4L left in it, which shows that it wasn't over-pressurised. I've just found the receipt so I'm going to try for a replacement.

Even if it had been over-pressurised, it's supposed to release it through the safety valve. You're definitely entitled to a replacement in my view.

Stories like this make me worry about my kegs.. I need to convince the mrs that a row of cornies is a good investment.

[Naich]

What puts me off the cornies is the amount of extra hassle - the cleaning, external CO2 bottles, pipework etc., and they only hold 19L. Not that I'd say no if someone was giving them away, but with limited time to do anything in, it's nice to be able to just lob it in a keg and forget about it. It's just a shame that the kegs seem to be a bit crap some times.

[DrewBrews]

I've had a plastic barrel split in exactly the same way, I decided to get a cornie about 10 mins after that happened and I'm currently in the process of shelling out for all the bits to connect it up.

I keep reminding myself that I'm not doing this hobby to save money

[Naich]

Well, it's no great loss. The brew that leaked out isn't much cop. I've been opening a bottle every few days and there hasn't been one that's not been knackered by strong off-flavours. The last one reeked of vinegar, so I didn't even bother tasting it.

I think my earlier optimism about the taste was due to the fact that the flavour of the yeast was covering up the nasties, and now it has cleared they are coming through. Never mind. On with the next brew and everything crossed for Sunday.

I got a new keg to replace the broken one with no quibbles, so that's good.

Saving money - yes, it's just a question of drinking it as fast as possible and at some point you'll break even. For me it'll be around 2024, assuming I don't buy any more ingredients ever and start making my beer from grass and acorns.