Young's Harvest Stout? Tastes STRONG

[Stoutman]

I fermented the Young's Harvest Stout kit for eight days and observed no change in gravity for the last 24 hours. So I bottled it in glass bottles with crown caps and it's been maturing and carbonating at room temperature for a further 9 days now.

I opened a bottle yesterday, and it's slightly over-carbonated (my mistake, too much priming sugar @ 66g for 30pts), but that's not the main problem. I find it's got a very dry, hoppy taste, in a similar direction to Guinness (its not a sweet stout), but its really REALLY strong, rendering it undrinkable after half a pint.

There's no evidence to suggest it's infected or anything, but I'm wondering how much the flavours will mellow over time?? I guess all I can do is wait!

Also, how important is it to move the bottles to a less-than-room-temperature environment after secondary fermentation takes place?

Cheers

Dave

[Totem]

What was the starting and finishing gravity?

[Stoutman]

OG was 1.046
FG was 1.013

I know 1.013 was a little high, but it wasn't changing, and the wort/beer didn't taste sweet.

Carbonation seemed to take place well and fairly quickly, so my yeast was still alive hehe

[Totem]

Thats 4.48% which shouldn't give too strong a taste? What sort of sugar did you add to the kit (if any)?

[maxashton]

It's probably just raw. The flavour should mellow with age. OG of 1046, you want to mature for 4 weeks at least before sampling. I'd say probably closer to 5, myself.

[Stoutman]

I used beer kit enhancer for the primary, and unrefined light brown cane sugar for the secondary.

I've transferred the bottles to the shed, and I'm trying to forget them. The hardest thing with this brewing malarkey is the waiting!