I have managed to make Grapefruit Juice

**BigKahuna** · 03-17-2008, 09:45 PM

3#'s Pilsen dry extract
total 2Oz Crystal Hops.
Washed US-05 Yeast (Second Generation)

Boil time 55 minutes
add 1# extract and 1.5 oz of hops for full 55 min.
added the rest of the hops and extract for final 10 Minutes.

This stuff tastes and smells like watered down grapefruit juice at 6 days. This is when I transfered to secondary. Is this because of the Crystal Hops?
I am hoping it will improve. I guess I should have done more reading about SMaSH brewing, but I really wanted to try this.

***edit: 3 Gallon Batch***

**EdWort** · 03-17-2008, 09:46 PM

RDWHAHB. Give it time. All things on beer get better with patience.

**Revvy** · 03-17-2008, 09:50 PM

Hmmm...I just looked through several descriptions of Crystal hops and none of them mention grapefruity flavors/aromas....

Was there a grapefruity character to your first batch with the yeastcake?

It may just be green still.

**BigKahuna** · 03-17-2008, 09:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Revvy

Hmmm...I just looked through several descriptions of Crystal hops and none of them mention grapefruity flavors/aromas....

Was there a grapefruity character to your first batch with the yeastcake?

It may just be green still.

No previous character. The first was an amber ale that has a very "Grainy" flavor if anything.
I'ts not disgusting, but it isn't what i had expected. Heck, I'd even thought about using grapefruit in a hef instead of hops.
I would like to know why though.

**david_42** · 03-17-2008, 10:47 PM

If you had some Amarillo or Perle in there I could understand the flavor, but not from Crystal. Regardless, it will go away.

paranode · 03-17-2008, 11:52 PM

It could be just that it's too green. Most people associate that taste with green apples but I could see it tasting like watered down grapefruit juice maybe.

**Revvy** · 03-18-2008, 01:08 AM

Man...I've looked through all sorts of stuff online, and still nothing to help..

You're not really a "n00b" to this...so I don't want to dissmiss this as a simple "newby panicking over green beer" issue

2 questions....

What hops went into the amber you cooked on the old cake? Did you use any of the grapefruity hops in that batch?

You do know that you should always go darker when you pitch onto a yeast cake, right? That way you can mask any lingering flavors...For example I pitchet a brown ale onto my amber ales cake....

And it looks like you went lighter onto the cake with all that pilsen malt, that may be the issue....

Do you have any of the washed yeast cake left over? If so take a sniff and see if has the grapefuity smell to it...if you're gutsy enough, take a taste.....

If it's that...then you know to use it for darker beers like your upcoming pirate stout brew.

**BigKahuna** · 03-18-2008, 05:38 AM

Northern brewer hops..both additions.

I didn't actually pitch to a cake, I followed the washing instructions from this forum, but yes, that could result in some flavor coming over.
I did taste the goo. Not a good idea, but thanks for the experience...I'll not soon forget it.

YUCK! No Grapefruit.

I will report back when this has been in a bottle for 3 or so weeks...I sure hope it comes around.

PseudoChef · 03-18-2008, 01:59 PM

It just seems that's it an unbalanced beer. 3 lbs of extract and 2 oz hops? You should brew some tried and true recipes when you're starting out to get the hang of things.

**BigKahuna** · 03-18-2008, 05:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PseudoChef

You should brew some tried and true recipes when you're starting out to get the hang of things.

Ummm...I've done tried and true...about 10 or 15 times. I was looking for a "Hoppy" smash. And innovation NEVER happens when you stick to tried and true.
I do think you are right though. I think Balance went right out the window a long time ago.