John Bull Masterclass IPA tastes awful...

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mr lil

John Bull Masterclass IPA tastes awful...

Post by mr lil » Sat Dec 22, 2007 12:54 pm

Around a month ago I made an IPA kit using all glucose powder for the kit and the priming.
Everything was cleaned and sanitised using cheap thin bleach and soda crystals and rinsed well.
Yeast was pitched at the correct temperature, and the bin was left in primary for over a week in my shed.
All barrelled up and primed and has been left for three weeks.
This is my Christmas batch to serve to the family!!!
Anyway, on pouring a pint last night it came out with perfect pressure, a perfect head, freezing cold and almost if not all clear.
Smells excellent so no nasty niffs.
However, on tasting it I can only describe the after taste as incredibly bitter. Almost like the bitter additive they put in things like nail varnish remover....Bitrex I think.
Any thoughts if this is bad, or my glass or just something I've eaten beforehand.
I am quite a meticulous brewer, using all my tips from here.
Any help appreciated as usual.
Paul

mr lil

Post by mr lil » Sat Dec 22, 2007 3:00 pm

The Nog has all gone now Daab, just not updated my profile.
I reckon its the glassware as it hadnt long come out of the dish washer,.
I didnt use any sodium met this time and only used glucose powder...I'm diabetic and use it a lot!!!for emergencies.
I forgot to mention I sampled some a week ago and it had that taste that said I need a bit longer, but not bitter.
I'll try another glass!!

mysterio

Post by mysterio » Sat Dec 22, 2007 6:26 pm

and the bin was left in primary for over a week in my shed.
What temperature is your shed?

sparky Paul

Re: John Bull Masterclass IPA tastes awful...

Post by sparky Paul » Sat Dec 22, 2007 7:37 pm

mr lil wrote:Around a month ago I made an IPA kit using all glucose powder for the kit and the priming.
How much glucose did you add to the kit?

I didn't think you needed to add anything to any of the Masterclass kits, is the IPA different? :-k

mr lil

Post by mr lil » Sat Dec 22, 2007 9:28 pm

It suggests 50% light spray malt and 50% dextrose...off hand I think.
It was definately a 50/50 mix recommendation.
My shed is very cold at the moment, and thought this better as it would condition it better and it seems to all be well except that taste.
I'll try it again later and report back.
As I say it was OK a week ago bar the fact it wasnt quite clear and tasted a little bit "home brew"

Wobbler

Post by Wobbler » Sat Dec 22, 2007 10:42 pm

Apart from priming, I've only ever used sugar once in a brew. I used approx 0.75Kg of glucose in a 5 gal brew. It finished up with a disgusting bitter aftertaste, nothing like the bitterness from hops, and it all went down the sink. Can never be 100% sure on these things, but I'm convinced it was the glucose that caused the nasty taste. Glucose powder in a beer recipe, never again for me.

mysterio

Post by mysterio » Sun Dec 23, 2007 2:59 am

My shed is very cold at the moment, and thought this better as it would condition it better and it seems to all be well except that taste.
I would hazard a guess that this is the problem, yeast need a fairly constant temperature to produce decent results.

mr lil

Post by mr lil » Fri Dec 28, 2007 9:46 pm

All is well my friends!!!
It had to be something on the glass. We had it on Christmas day and it was excellent. However, when travelling back home, the missus swung round a corner a bit lively and sent my barrel on its side.....so its clearing again now!!
Thanks for all your help.

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