Diacetyl

[Keviebaby]

I've got a kit that I kegged last week and I've just had a sample of it to see how it's getting along and there is a strong butterscotch smell and taste which I presume is diacetyl. I got this occassionally when i did all grain but never this strong.

It's a Coopers Bitter kit that I made with a pack of Gerodie Beer Enhancer and used the Coopers yeast that came with the kit. Fermentation was done at around 17-20 degrees and I kegged with 75g sugar.

As I say, it's only been in the keg a week and it's still cloudy. Will the remaining yeast get rid of the butterscotch do you think?

Kev

[Keviebaby]

Cheers DaaB, I'll try it again after the weekend and see how it develops.

[PieOPah]

You've gone from All Grain to Kits????????????????

[J_P]

Is Diacetyl the same stuff as these "Chain" and "Higher" alcohols folks have been talking about lately? If not what are they?

[Keviebaby]

PieoPah - Sort of. I started homebrewing back in 1996 with a boots kit which as I recall wasn't very good but I enjoyed doing it so I persevered.

I moved to all-grain a couple of years later and then had some happy years with a 10 gallon, twin element, six corny set-up. Then my job changed and I was working abroad 4 days a week for six months and when that finished they made me redundant. The job I'm in now doesn't leave that much time for brewing but I wanted to get back into it so I'm starting again with kits.

However, in the storms we had earlier in the year my shed was smashed to bits and I got a new one which is nice and empty and waiting to be converted to a brew-shed (when I get time to do it! - Catch-22) I am determined to go back to all-grain.

Back onto topic - I've tried the Coopers again and the diacetyl seems to have gone. It's cleared nicely and has an excellent head.

Kev

[Keviebaby]

Cheers DaaB. I expect I'll be posting more queries into the equipment section soon. Summer isn't the best time for brewing but it's a good time to get your kit together