Strong Alcohol smell

**gruversm** · 07-27-2008, 11:40 PM

brewed this on 6/22/08 and has been kegged for about a week. My problem is that this brew has a STRONG alcohol smell even though the S.G. is around 1.047.

What did I do wrong?

BeerSmith Recipe Printout - http://www.beersmith.com
Recipe: Bitter Bald Guy
Brewer: Steve Gruver
Asst Brewer: Jim Moler
Style: English Pale Ale/Strong Bitter
TYPE: All Grain
Taste: (35.0)

Recipe Specifications
--------------------------
Batch Size: 5.00 gal
Boil Size: 6.41 gal
Estimated OG: 1.055 SG
Estimated Color: 17.2 SRM
Estimated IBU: 43.7 IBU
Brewhouse Efficiency: 70.00 %
Boil Time: 60 Minutes

Ingredients:
------------
Amount Item Type % or IBU
8.00 lb Pale Malt (2 Row) US (2.0 SRM) Grain 72.73 %
2.00 lb Caramel/Crystal Malt - 80L (80.0 SRM) Grain 18.18 %
1.00 lb Corn, Flaked (1.0 SRM) Grain 9.09 %
2.60 oz Williamette [4.60 %] (60 min) Hops 37.9 IBU
0.50 oz Willamette [4.60 %] (15 min) Hops 4.0 IBU
0.60 oz Williamette [4.60 %] (5 min) Hops 1.7 IBU
1 Pkgs British Ale (White Labs #WLP005) Yeast-Ale

Mash Schedule: Single Infusion, Medium Body, No Mash Out
Total Grain Weight: 11.00 lb
----------------------------
Single Infusion, Medium Body, No Mash Out
Step Time Name Description Step Temp
60 min Mash In Add 13.75 qt of water at 170.1 F 154.0 F

Notes:
------
Hit temp of 151F
Racked to Secondary on 7/5/08. Brix reading 5.6.
Forced carbed (35psi) on 7/20

Arneba28 · 07-27-2008, 11:44 PM

How much corn sugar did you add to boost the abv. Also, what was your FG and what style is it. How warm were your fermentation temps

**gruversm** · 07-27-2008, 11:51 PM

No sugar. I did a forced carbonation. Fermenting temps 68-72 F. FG was around 1.009. Style is indicated in BeerSmith recipe.

Arneba28 · 07-27-2008, 11:57 PM

Ok someone can back me on this or contradict but whatever. I am guessing on a combination of 3 things.
1. Willamette has a slight grapefruity taste correct.
2. 6%abv. Not much of a covering taste. so alcohol thats present will be tasted.
3. Its still young. Just over a month old. and one week in keg puts primary at 1 week and secondary at 2 right? Its very young for everything to mellow and blend tastes a bit

Give it another few weeks and there will be a big difference