disappointing aroma

ARV9673 · 02-08-2007, 12:27 AM

I am little disappointed. I just racked to secondary with my first wheat (trying to do what someone touted as a Blue Moon clone, one of my favorites) and I have to admit, I hated the smell. I realize it has a month or two to age, but it smelled a lot like a couple of beers I've had that I didn't really like. Anyway, I guess if it keeps that way, I'll chock it up to a brew sized lesson and not do that recipe again. *Sigh*, at least there's always brown ale.....

**Bobby_M** · 02-08-2007, 12:49 AM

What does it smell like?

ARV9673 · 02-08-2007, 01:07 AM

I can't describe it. Earthy maybe. Not what I remember a wheat being like. I think I was trying for a particular KIND of wheat beer. Hefeweizen this ain't Maybe that's it.
It does smell like a beer I've had before, but I cannot remember the name. Weihenstephen, or something like that. I am not sure. I am not saying I won't be able to choke it down. If I could choke the fruity crap

that my first batch was, this will be no problem. Maybe I'll just have to try it with Orange slices or something. Plus, it IS only a week old. Probably just a good dose of paranoia.
Nothing like drinkable mistakes...

Pabst Blue Robot · 02-09-2007, 12:45 AM

Which yeast did you use? The overpowering sulfur/yeast smell should mild quite a bit with time, and generally wheat beers don't have a lot of hops in the aroma so perhaps that's what you're noticing?

ARV9673 · 02-09-2007, 07:16 AM

I didn't even think of that. The yeast I used was a liquid yeast, I forget the name brand, but the HBS owner suggested it when I mentioned I was doing a wheat brew. It didn't need a starter or anything, just shake and add it to the cooled wort. The more I think about it, the more I think that that was probably what I smelled. It was an aroma I have smelled before, but never as strongly as this time.

lefteye · 02-11-2007, 11:09 PM

To the Novice there are many possibilities to the Master there are few.