Export Pilsner just wont clear

[jat147]

Evening all,

I've had a Muntons Export Pilsner sitting in a pressure barrel since Jan 24th and feel like it should be ready by now, but every time I try a glass its the same and doesn't seem to get much better - i'm ready to ditch it and use the barrel for something else but am worried i'm just being a bit impatient.
The head is acceptable but low carbonation, and too cloudy still for a pils. Then theres the taste. Hard to describe why its so awful, but a little hint of TCP - but not only that. Reading other posts on here make me wonder if the yeast is to blame.
Confession When fermenting, the thing just didn't want to get going.... i wish i had dumped it then, but in my frugality i opted for a substitute... wine yeast i know, it even sounds stupid typing it.
Has that ruined the taste? or is that a coincidence?
Sorry for being a loser

[196osh]

Evening all,

I've had a Muntons Export Pilsner sitting in a pressure barrel since Jan 24th and feel like it should be ready by now, but every time I try a glass its the same and doesn't seem to get much better - i'm ready to ditch it and use the barrel for something else but am worried i'm just being a bit impatient.
The head is acceptable but low carbonation, and too cloudy still for a pils. Then theres the taste. Hard to describe why its so awful, but a little hint of TCP - but not only that. Reading other posts on here make me wonder if the yeast is to blame.
Confession When fermenting, the thing just didn't want to get going.... i wish i had dumped it then, but in my frugality i opted for a substitute... wine yeast i know, it even sounds stupid typing it.
Has that ruined the taste? or is that a coincidence?
Sorry for being a loser

Not a loser at all mate.

TCP normally means excess chlorine, does your tap water have highish levels of chlorine in it?

[jat147]

Hi, I dont think there is too much Cl , we're in the east mids and the water is very hard - does that make a difference?
Did an Abdij from Brewferm recently which was lovely, or would the water react differently to different kits?
thanks again

[steve_flack]

Did you treat your water to remove Chlorine? The problem is that the compounds formed when the chlorine reacts with the malt have exceptionally strong flavours so even if you can't taste chlorine in the water there's probably enough to cause problems.

[jat147]

Hi Steve,
No, didn't do any treatment i'm afraid - never heard of that, is it an additive of some sort?
If that's the cause of the flavour, could it effect the cloudiness? After 6 weeks in the barrel it is as murky as a whitebeer -
nothing like a pilsner and showing no signs of improving

[steve_flack]

Hi Steve,
No, didn't do any treatment i'm afraid - never heard of that, is it an additive of some sort?
If that's the cause of the flavour, could it effect the cloudiness? After 6 weeks in the barrel it is as murky as a whitebeer -
nothing like a pilsner and showing no signs of improving

Basically take all the water you're going to use and add a crushed campden tablet to it and stir. The bisulfite in the tablet reacts extremely quickly with any chlorine in the water.

[brysie]

hi jat

you could try adding finings to the barrel, but you have to ask yourself `do i want to drink this?`
if its palatable then persevere, if its shyte then sling it and get another one on the go.
after six weeks in the barrel you should have a pretty good idea which way you`re leaning son.

[verno]

I wouldn't worry about the wine yeast, when you back is against the wall you try anything. The only comment from me would be I have read that barrelling a lager is difficult, it might be a lack of carbonation as you can't build the presssure?

[nath812]

I wouldn't worry about the wine yeast, when you back is against the wall you try anything. The only comment from me would be I have read that barrelling a lager is difficult, it might be a lack of carbonation as you can't build the presssure?

Hi!
I have only been brewing....well........once.......but...... my first and only( so far ) lager kit is great in bottles but R (emphasize capital R) ubbish in the keg. I only have a standard kit (no co2 injection or anything) but bottles worked wonders for me lager!

Nath

[jat147]

Thanks for all the ideas, the mention of carbonation seemed worth a try - the foul tasting brew is pretty flat aswel.

I got a small CO2 cannister and injector, and it has made a bit of a difference. Much less cloudy than before, and the wife says it tastes a bit better than it did. I suspect it might be because of this forum collectively willing it to get better

I think there is still a little way to go with the carbonation, I've got another 9 cannisters - how much CO2 is a good idea to add before I need to think about redecorating?