Beer sampling, anyone?

[Tim74]

I posted a few days ago about my first ever brew tasting a little bitter/sour after being bottled for four days. It's now been ten days and the aftertaste is still there. I know it's probably a little too early to tell if the beer is a write-off or not, but I would like to know what a more experienced brewer thinks.

I've tasted a lot of different beers in the 16 years since I could legally buy a pint in the pub, but I've never tasted home brew before, so I don't really know how good, or how close to the real thing it should be. I'm wondering if something has gone wrong with the beer, or perhaps it's just chlorine? I have no benchmark to use, so I just don't know.

Is there anyone in Cambs within a reasonable distance of Broughton (between Huntingdon and Warboys) who would maybe like to have a taste (Woodforde's Wherry) and pass judgement. If you think it's OK, I'll send you away with a few bottles. If it's crap, I'll apologise profusely...

[RichardG]

Can't really get to you from Halesowen, but my first ever brew was a Woodfordes Wherry, and in my opinion it was at least 4 weeks before it was remotely ready, and it was far better after 6 - 8 weeks. So don't give up hope yet.

[drmick]

My first kit was a Wherry and it got better with age - initial taste wasn't great but after about 4 weeks in bottles tasted rather good and the full 40ish pints disappeared quite quickly. I would leave it and sample a bottle in a couple of weeks and see if it improves

[brysie]

hiya

im quite a new boy to this malarkey but my second attempt was a wherry kit.
i hate to wizz on your bonfire but mine tasted ace after a week and way better after three. i was so impressed i did another one last night.
{and me normally a lager drinker}
i did however, on some advice on here, do the half campden tablet in the water before starting and that might have helped.
our water taste can vary quite a bit down here and so i always take precautions.

i think that the general consensus, on here at least, is that if your woodfordes kit doesnt stick- you should get a decent tasting beer from it.

personally, i would let this one `mature` and do another one straight off. at least then you have something to compare it to

be lucky.

[brysie]

or..

purely in the name of research of course...

buy a few different bottles from the offy, and do a comparison that way.

whats your pint of preference normally?

[jubby]

Needs a bit more time Tim. I am sure it will turn out good.

I am about 20 miles from you, you are welcome to pop in and sample a few of mine, I don't have any kit beer to sample as I moved to grain brewing. I am certainly no expert, but I have brewed a few of the Woodforde's kits and have a pretty good idea how they should taste.

[Tim74]

Thanks for your replies, guys. I guess I'm going to have to learn the art of patience...

personally, i would let this one `mature` and do another one straight off. at least then you have something to compare it to

I started another last Saturday. I sneaked a taste earlier on this evening and it doesn't have the sour/bitter taste that the first one has.

whats your pint of preference normally?

Blimey, that's a difficult question to answer, Brysie! I'm not to fussy; Wherry does happen to be one of my favourites, but I'll drink most things as long as they don't come from Elgood's or Charles Wells. I like bitter through the winter and a nice European lager in the summer. I'm especially partial to a really dark European beer. There are some great ones in Croatia.

I am about 20 miles from you, you are welcome to pop in and sample a few of mine, I don't have any kit beer to sample as I moved to grain brewing. I am certainly no expert, but I have brewed a few of the Woodforde's kits and have a pretty good idea how they should taste.

I'll give it a bit longer, Jubby, and if things haven't improved I will take you up on your offer. Best not tell my wife though; I've become seriously addicted to this brewing game and I have a feeling that if I see your set-up, it might end up hurting my wallet...