pilot45

Recipes 

Brewed an ironmaster Porter extract kit almost 4 weeks ago. In the primary for 14 days, then I bottled, and it has been conditioning for almost 2 weeks (it will be 2 weeks on Sunday). Last night I had to crack one open, curiosity got the best of me. It had great carbonation and great head, but it tasted just like watered down LME. I couldn't even finish it. Here is the question. Will it get better with time? Should I put the bottles in the fridge or keep them at room temperature? Could it possibly have been to green?
Also, I have an electric stove and never achieved a full boil, no hot break. I did one more extract brew like this, but it is still in the primary. I am switching to a turkey fryer to get a full boil. Will this alleviate the problem?

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Primary: Experimental chocolate and toasted coconut stout.
Bottled: Ironmaster stout
On the Vine:Nugget, Cascade, Fuggle

ifishsum

Recipes 

4 weeks is very young for a porter IMO. I take my first taste at about 8 weeks, and often let it age a couple more before really getting into it.

As far as I know, the weak boil would mostly affect the bittering hops. Hot break is not a real big deal with extract, but if you didn't get good isomerization of your hops because of the weak boil (or lack thereof), the end product can certainly reflect that. I had a similar problem when I started brewing, once I reached boiling I'd turn down the gas to a simmer because I was afraid of a boilover. Those first couple of batches were definitely lacking in bitterness, and after discovering that a good fierce boil is desirable, I've noticed the difference.

I do think your beer will improve with time, so don't give up on it yet. Tuck those bottles away for a bit (at room temp) and press on.

__________________
"If you're gonna be an ape, be a hairy one" - Spyder

Primary 2: Edwort's Robust Porter
Secondary 1: LW Pale Ale
Secondary 1: Blackened Soul RIS
Kegged: Dead Guy Ale
Kegged: Rye Pale Ale
Kegged: Haus Pale Ale
Kegged: Nut Brown Ale
Kegged: Afrikan Amber
Kegged: Jock Scott Ale
Kegged: Afrikan Amber

Marko73

Recipes 

Also, check these boards about ways to increase body. That was an issue I had with a few of my extract kits as well.

__________________
"It is sheer folly to be taken by the hand and led down the path of better brewing by someone who says that they know it all. No, it is your experience that counts most. It is your experience that will always lead you to more questions."

~Charlie Papazian

Dwain

Recipes 

+1 on letting it age. It can make a tremendous difference. Also, on the boil, I used the stove a few times but it took so long to boil that I moved outside. RDWHAHB. Luck - Dwain

Tlylebrew

Recipes 

Never found a porter I truely liked.. One of my least favorite beer styles.. but regardless let it sit..

Just an FYI.. the two kits I did with partial boils both had an off taste I couldn't put my finger on. I believe it is what people call extract twang.. Since I got my 15 gallon keg to boil in I've had no such problems.. Full boils are the way to go IMHO.

Vic_Sinclair

Recipes 

Did the kit come with enough LME for a 5 gallon batch? Single-can kits require you to add more fermentables.

david_42

Recipes 

Give it another 4 weeks and serve it around 50F.

__________________
Remember one unassailable statistic, as explained by the late, great George Carlin: "Just think of how stupid the average person is, and then realize half of them are even stupider!"

WayneTree

Recipes 

IronMaster Porter was the 1st ever kit I chose to brew while attending Homebrew class here in CT. I did a 5 gallon batch and used 2 4lb.cans.Boiled ,chilled and pitched with the dry yeast included.Transferred to secondary 3 weeks later,then back to primary for bottlling. Used corn sugar ,bottled and let sit for 3 weeks while on vacation.Went to our last class with the brews we made and sampled everyones.My Porter came out exellent.
Nice head, good carb and nice flavor/even my wife liked it and she is not a dark beer lover.
Instructer wanted me to do the same for 2nd batch but with a liquid yeast to taste the difference. I accidentally grabbed 2 brown ales instead of Porter so I am doing that for 2nd batch. I will do the Porter next with liquid yeast.

pilot45

Recipes 

Encouraging news for sure. Perhaps I just need to wait longer to taste. What is the effect of putting the bottles in the fridge to condition? Will they condition, just at a slower rate, or will they not condition at all? I had them out for about 2 weeks, but it seems that the house gets too hot during the day. I should mention that I am in Florida, and by too hot, I mean 80 degrees.

__________________
Primary: Experimental chocolate and toasted coconut stout.
Bottled: Ironmaster stout
On the Vine:Nugget, Cascade, Fuggle

david_42

Recipes 

You've got it.

__________________
Remember one unassailable statistic, as explained by the late, great George Carlin: "Just think of how stupid the average person is, and then realize half of them are even stupider!"