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garf6819 · 02-20-2009, 05:06 PM

I just opened my first bottle of Belgian Wheat and it smells and tastes nasty. I had almost asked my son to throw out his gym socks that were laying on the floor until I realized it wasn't his socks that smelled but instead my beer. When I racked it from the primary last week the bucket had a hint of this funky almost a bad fruit smell. I have poked around and have seen some people speak of fermentation temps being to high. I had it in the primary for 2 weeks and racked it to (6)bottles and a keg. The corny I am using as a secondary but the bottles have been carbed for about a week. Should I hold a wake or leave it on life support?

RICLARK · 02-20-2009, 05:08 PM

If its only been a week wait. What was your fermentation temps?

**ChshreCat** · 02-20-2009, 05:12 PM

One week is definitely not enough time to form an opinion.

garf6819 · 02-20-2009, 05:18 PM

I love you guys. I knew there was still hope in those little yeasties. My fermentation temp was not higher than 74f but never got below 68f.

**ChshreCat** · 02-20-2009, 05:19 PM

Even if the bottles never taste right, the keg will likely taste different since you're bulk aging in there.

snailsongs · 02-20-2009, 06:32 PM

IF you used the White Labs Belgian Wit strain (or equivalent Wyeast strain), that funky ripe smell is normal. I had the same experience; I thought that my beer had turned to baby poop (ie. half digested fruit puree smell) and was horrified, then later in the week I was at a brew pub and had their belgian wit and noticed the exact same note in their beer, only it was actually at a pleasant level that worked to the beer's advantage......so hold out and let is rest a bit, it should get better.

garf6819 · 02-20-2009, 07:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by snailsongs

IF you used the White Labs Belgian Wit strain (or equivalent Wyeast strain), that funky ripe smell is normal. I had the same experience; I thought that my beer had turned to baby poop (ie. half digested fruit puree smell) and was horrified, then later in the week I was at a brew pub and had their belgian wit and noticed the exact same note in their beer, only it was actually at a pleasant level that worked to the beer's advantage......so hold out and let is rest a bit, it should get better.

I used a dry yeast packet (I don't have a clue the brand) but you pretty much dead nailed the smell. I will hold on a while and pray to the beer gods. Thanks everyone

garf6819 · 03-08-2009, 01:14 PM

Update... I now have 3 batches that all have this odor/flavor. HMMM... OXYCLEAN ! I am not rinsing enough. I have used OXYCLEAN to clean the bottles and buckets. I know the bottles are well rinsed but the buckets have been neglected.

I'm not 100% sure but I was able to deduce this because I bought a brand new bucket and I made extra sure that everything was well cleaned and sanitized but as I look back I didn't rinse the bucket well.

garf6819 · 05-23-2009, 06:38 PM

It has been 3 months and the beer that I decided to keep has turned out nicely. I kept a few in the fridge and a few on the shelf and both taste as expected.

Rogmatic · 05-24-2009, 02:12 AM

I'm having this same issue, every beer I brew has that funky ripe fruity taste and aroma. Up to now, I've been brewing exclusively in a plastic bucket and plastic carboy, but I brewed a batch last night and threw it in my new glass carboy, hopefully that will make a difference. I've been using plain old notty's for yeast. My fermentation temps are definitely not too high. (A little low, if anything; basement + canada = chilly).