First brew advice

[sargie]

Is it this exess sweetness that gives the lager a slightly cidery taste and smell?

I think that's Acetaldehyde. When I did my first lager I used 6 small sample bottles to taste the beer developing. After week one the beer had cleared so I tried one. It had an aroma and taste of dry cider - I wouldn't have been able to tell the difference between it and a bad cider. I was certain I'd got an infection which ruined it.

However after six weeks it was really nice with no cider taste or smell. In the process of converting yeast to alcohol many more chemicals are created, one is Acetaldehyde. It is found naturally in ripe fruit and makes beer taste like green apples. After a few weeks it all gets converted into Alcohol and this taste goes away.

Thanks for that reply great explanation im enjoying the learning process of home brewing.

[EoinMag]

Cidery
Cidery flavors can have several causes but are often the result of adding too much cane or corn sugar to a recipe. One component of a cidery flavor is acetaldehyde which has a green-apple character. It is a common fermentation byproduct and different yeasts will produce different levels of it depending on the recipe and temperature. Cidery flavors are encouraged by warmer than normal temperatures and can be decreased by lagering.

If it is caused by aceto bacteria, then there is nothing to be done about it. Keep the fruit flies away from the fermentor next time.


http://www.howtobrew.com/section4/chapter21-2.html

An extract from Palmers book how to brew.

[sonicated]

In the process of converting yeast to alcohol

Of course that should have been sugar to alcohol It's Friday afternoon..