AbbeyDubbel

Recipes 

So I popped open my first bottle from the very first batch I've ever done. I started brewing it on January 16th. It spent four weeks in the primary (2 normal, 2 dry hopped) and has been in the bottles for 1.5 weeks.

I got that nice pop and fizz when I cracked it, and the haze rose from the bottle opening. I poured it gently into the glass and a .5 inch of thick white head sat nicely on top. Held up to the light, you could see bubbles vigorously detaching themselves from the bottom of the glass and shooting to the surface.

The smell was great in the bottle, but once I poured it and released all the aromas, I could tell it was a bit off. The first sip hit my tongue very nicely, but I tasted what I smelled; a bit of an off flavor (my roommate said it tasted like yeast). The carbonation was very nice, but sort of dissipated in your mouth so that when you swallowed it felt a bit flat.

My question is, is this normal for a beer after only 1.5 weeks in the bottle. My plan is to wait until the 3 week mark to crack another. Will this get rid of that off taste and smell and help the carbonation to mature? I figured at this point that it would be weakly carbonated but that the flavors would be right on. Is it bad that my beer still tastes green?

Thanks guys!

Symin6

Recipes 

I would say give it more time, it may actually get a little more carbonated depending on the yeast and priming sugar amount. As for the flavor, it kind of depends what off flavor you are getting. If it is a "yeasty taste" it could be that your beer got Yeast bite from just having been on the yeast to long. Just for good practice after fermentation is complete, you should rack the beer off the yeast then age/dry-hop. Doing this will also reduce sediment in your bottled beer. Will aging the beer get rid of the off flavors? Probably not but it will mellow them out quite a bit. I usually age my beer in the bottle for at least 3 weeks, usually but not always they are ripe for drinking.

AbbeyDubbel

Recipes 

Hmm, yeast bite sounds like a real possibility. That's too bad, hopefully a bit more time in the bottles will mellow that out. I mean, the beer was drinkable but not necessarily entirely enjoyable. Now I'm a little worried that me beer might overcarbonate.

MaynardX

Recipes 

What your probably tasting is "green" beer. 1.5 weeks in the bottle is still a little young. If you let it sit in the bottle for a few more weeks, I think you will be surprised how improved the flavor gets!

AbbeyDubbel

Recipes 

Awesome, I'm definitely excited. My worry now is about the carbonation level. When I cracked it last night it had the perfect carb. except it didn't last quite long enough in the mouth. I don't really want it to carb. too much more. I realize now that, even though I used the right amount of priming sugar from my kit, it was probably a bit too much as 1) I've heard from a few people that the kits usually provide too much and 2) my total volume of liquid was a bit under 5 gallons. Oh well, we'll see.

Symin6

Recipes 

i wouldn't worry about it much it should be about done fermenting. if anything it will improve your mouth-feel carbonation, buy allowing more time for the carbon dioxide to absorb into the beer.

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llazy_llama

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Wait three weeks, minimum, then try again.

Also, how did you pour the bottle into the glass? Were you careful to pour slowly, watching the shoulder, and leaving the last 1/5th or so in the bottle? If you just poured the whole thing into the glass, you're going to have some yeast in there. If you beer isn't a Hefe or similar style, that's going to cause off flavors.

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AbbeyDubbel

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Hmm, I poured slowly but I did pour the whole thing. I didn't think it was a problem because I didn't see anything that looked like sediment but you are probably absolutely right, I poured the yeast into the glass. I'll be more careful next time I pour it (in 2 weeks )

Revvy

Recipes 

Basically you have under carbed green beer....just read this, and leave them alone for a couple more weeks.

And read this while you wait.
http://blogs.homebrewtalk.com/Revvy/Of_Patience_and_Bottle_Conditioning/

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llazy_llama

Recipes 

Well then, I hope your patience and attention to detail are rewarded with great beer! Offering up a short prayer to Ninkasi, the Summerian Goddess of beer and brewing couldn't hurt... I'm just sayin.

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