Getting a bit disheartened

Get advice on making beer from raw ingredients (malt, hops, water and yeast)
Post Reply
Western Brewer

Getting a bit disheartened

Post by Western Brewer » Thu May 03, 2007 3:28 pm

All my brews seem to suffer from a slight after taste. Now as I've got a pretty crap sense of taste and lack of experience, I am not sure what is causing it nor how to discribe it. I sterilize everything before use so am pretty sure that it's not an infection. My first brew a Summer Lightning clone was best but in the Directors and Hobgoblin clones it's more noticeable. Richard at Cheers home brewing said it might be water treatment. I didn't think to ask if he meant mine or what is already in the domestic supply. I do add 1/2 a campden tablet before brewing to rid the chlorine.
So here I am again asking for advice. Steve D lives near me perhaps I could twist his arm into me going to him and bringing a sample over to taste. Would you be up for that Steve? It is drinkable BTW :D
As usual TIA
Top
steve_flack

Post by steve_flack » Thu May 03, 2007 3:33 pm

What sort of aftertaste? Is it a dry lingering mouth pucking aftertaste (astringency)?
Top
oblivious

Post by oblivious » Thu May 03, 2007 3:35 pm

Is it sweet, sour, salty or metal?
Top
Western Brewer

Post by Western Brewer » Thu May 03, 2007 3:51 pm

steve_flack wrote:What sort of aftertaste? Is it a dry lingering mouth pucking aftertaste (astringency)?
Could be described as that I guess. As I said I need an experienced brewer/tatser to pass judgement. I really I no good at identifying flavours and that's not just beer either. As long as it tastes good it goes down the hatch :D
Top
steve_flack

Post by steve_flack » Thu May 03, 2007 3:56 pm

Do you check the pH or gravity of the runnings off the mash? Maybe you're oversparging?
Top
Western Brewer

Post by Western Brewer » Thu May 03, 2007 4:00 pm

I haven't done so far. Thought I would walk before learning to run. I did buy some ph papers last time but forgot I had bought them in the excitement of brewing #-o
Top
Vossy1

Post by Vossy1 » Thu May 03, 2007 4:04 pm

Chin up WB :wink:

Have you got a wifey thing or a friend who might aid you in identifying the taste :?:
Top
User avatar
bitter_dave
Even further under the Table
Posts: 2170
Joined: Thu Dec 29, 2005 1:00 pm
Location: Whitley Bay

Post by bitter_dave » Thu May 03, 2007 4:06 pm

Why don't you let Richard at Cheers have a taste? I'm sure he'd be happy to.

I wouldn't rule out water treatments. I can't make decent beer without treating my water somehow.
Top
Wilbur

Post by Wilbur » Thu May 03, 2007 4:07 pm

I had ph problems, my beer always had a harsh hop bitterness and the dry astringent mouthfeel. I was able to solve my problems by adding a little 5.2 buffer to the mash. I'm not sure if you guys can get it over there, its made by Five Star same company that makes Star San sanitizer.
Top
User avatar
Andy
Virtually comatose but still standing
Posts: 8716
Joined: Fri Nov 18, 2005 1:00 pm
Location: Ash, Surrey
Contact:
Contact Andy

Post by Andy » Thu May 03, 2007 4:41 pm

WB - how about coming along to our North Hants Craft Brewers clubnight ? Next one's at the end of May and there will be people there who could definitely help with identifying problems with a beer......
Dan!
Top
User avatar
flytact
Drunk as a Skunk
Posts: 759
Joined: Wed Oct 04, 2006 6:31 pm
Location: Annapolis, MD - USA

Post by flytact » Thu May 03, 2007 7:31 pm

You know, most of the time I'm the only one who can taste the off-flavors, we are our own worst critics. I'll ask people to tell me what they really think. They seem to think honesty will get them cut off from the tap.

The two flavors I've gotten rid of:
band-aid, fermenting too hot. Didn't really have to do anything, just build a new house.
And, "that taste I can't put my finger on", but I assumed it was from chlorine and used campden tabs.
Johnny Clueless was there
With his simulated wood grain
Top
User avatar
Garth
Falling off the Barstool
Posts: 3565
Joined: Tue Aug 22, 2006 1:00 pm
Location: Durham

Post by Garth » Thu May 03, 2007 8:20 pm

flytact wrote:Didn't really have to do anything, just build a new house.
ha, I like it, that tickled me
Top
User avatar
Mashman
Lost in an Alcoholic Haze
Posts: 675
Joined: Sun Jul 16, 2006 7:00 pm
Location: Canterbury, Kent

Post by Mashman » Thu May 03, 2007 8:39 pm

I think I know what you mean, DLS & CRS cured it for me.
Top
SteveD

Post by SteveD » Fri May 04, 2007 2:20 am

Andy wrote:WB - how about coming along to our North Hants Craft Brewers clubnight ? Next one's at the end of May and there will be people there who could definitely help with identifying problems with a beer......
WB, you're welcome over here anytime, or I could come to yours. Coming along to the club meeting is a great idea and would also sort the beer out in no time flat. If it's astringency or medicinal in flavour I would suspect phenol/tannin extraction due to too high PH/temperature and/or oversparging, given you're knocking out the chlorine with campden tabs.

Next beer club meet is 29th May. We could travel together.
Top
SteveD

Post by SteveD » Sat May 05, 2007 10:43 am

.....or oxidation, or lightstruck, or an infection?

(1) Come over/or me to you, with a bottle to taste
(2) I'll sit in on a brewday to see how you brew
(3) Come to a North Hants Beer club meet with a bottle.
(4) If not, I'll take a bottle with me for the chaps to taste

That little regime should sort out your problem :)
Top
Post Reply

Return to “Grain Brewing”