Bitter lager

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stevezx7r

Bitter lager

Post by stevezx7r » Wed May 23, 2007 5:54 pm

I prep'd a Coopers lager on Sunday using saflager yeast, 1kg Geordie Beerkit Enhancer (or GBh as I like to call it now :wink: ) and 1kg dextrose powder. SG was 1052 so i'm hoping for 5+% and a nice taste. Now, as ever I keep checking the gravity every day to see how it's doing (about 1% per day) and a quick slurp of the flavour. The thing is it's quite bitter. If it doesn't mellow out quite a bit I think i'll have to resort to using some sweetener. Any ideas on this?

BTW, I can see the "all grain" horizon looming as I popped into my local HB shop (The Hop and Grape in Darlington) and bought a vacuum sealed pack of Saaz hops. I added them today and in the process made the house stink of hops (nice). I heated them to boiling point for a few mins then cooled the liquor in a sink of cold water before chucking the lot in the fermenter. I also replaced my "no water" breather on the lid for an "s bend" type with water - you should have seen the crazy bubbling!

Anyway, gotta make the tea, the kids are screaming. See ya!
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stevezx7r

Post by stevezx7r » Wed May 23, 2007 7:13 pm

Thats funny, thats what I said to John at the hop and grape but he said it wouldn't be a problem. Crossed wires me thinks.

Well, I hope it hasn't ruined my beer.
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awalker
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Post by awalker » Thu May 24, 2007 9:46 am

Like Daab says you need to leave it longer before you worry about it.

My basic all grain lager has been in a keg for a month and still taste bitter.
But no where near as bitter as it was.
It usually takes two months for me at room temperature.

But that will be faster if you can get it in a fridge and do proper lagering.
I have only just made space in the fridge for my lager, I am sure it would have sped it up if it had been in there from the beginning.

I find time will heal all beers (especially if I over hoped!)
Fermenter(s): Lambic, Wheat beer, Amrillo/Cascade Beer
Cornys: Hobgoblin clone, Four Shades Stout, Wheat Beer, Amarillo/Cascade Ale, Apple Wine, Cider, Damson Wine, Ginger Beer
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delboy

Post by delboy » Thu May 24, 2007 12:23 pm

stevezx7r wrote:Thats funny, thats what I said to John at the hop and grape but he said it wouldn't be a problem. Crossed wires me thinks.

Well, I hope it hasn't ruined my beer.
Adding hops to the fermentor won't add an extra bitterness but it will add hop aroma whiich may mask any sweetness thats in the brew so you will probably perceive it as slightly more bitter.
I wouldn't worry though its very early days and it will certainly improve.
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