Bitter Taste - Noob Question

RedHeadBrew25 · 10-20-2009, 12:35 AM

Ok, so my first batch (a Bell's Two Hearted clone from AHS) has been off and going in the primary for 11 days now. So I decided to draw a sample and take quick hyrdo reading today and all looks good.

As I have been so wisely taught from these forums I couldn't resist tasting the fruits of my labor! But when I did all I could taste were the hops (good) but then followed by a very bitter aftertaste.....

OG was 1.060 and the FG is suppose to be 1.012. The hyrdo reading I took was 1.020-ish. So my question is this taste normal at this stage in the process??? What should it be tasting like at this point?

COLObrewer · 10-20-2009, 01:03 AM

Yes it is normal, patience taste it after 3-4 weeks fermentation and 3-4 weeks in bottle/keg, You'll be happy.

annasdadhockey · 10-20-2009, 01:10 AM

The title says" Sour taste" but your post says "bitter taste". Which is it? They are quite different tastes. Just curious.

RedHeadBrew25 · 10-20-2009, 01:16 AM

My bad.....bitter

annasdadhockey · 10-20-2009, 01:23 AM

ahhh...well then COLO is absolutely right.

**remilard** · 10-20-2009, 01:33 AM

It's an IPA, it should be bitter.

Does it strike you as other than hop bitterness? That isn't good.

Hop bitterness will decrease over time, probably not all that much.

annasdadhockey · 10-20-2009, 01:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by annasdadhockey

The title says" Sour taste" but your post says "bitter taste". Which is it? They are quite different tastes. Just curious.

Well now this post just looks silly!!!

bgough · 10-20-2009, 05:28 AM

If your beer's not done fermenting, then it will most likely have a yeasty bite to it, as well as several other off flavors that the yeast will clean up once they're done.

Once you get consistent hydrometer readings at least 2 days apart, let it sit for an additional 1-2 weeks to allow the yeast to clean up after thermselves before botlling/kegging.

This works for most 1.050ish beers. Some certain styles will benefit from extended conditioning.

RedHeadBrew25 · 10-20-2009, 02:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by remilard

It's an IPA, it should be bitter.

Does it strike you as other than hop bitterness? That isn't good.

Hop bitterness will decrease over time, probably not all that much.

Yes, I know an IPA should be bitter, but this is diffenent then bitterness due to the hops.

I taste the hopiness and the bitterness associated with them but, then comes a bitter aftertaste.

corvax13 · 10-20-2009, 03:55 PM

What where your fermentation temperatures? You may have some off-flavors if they were a little too warm.