Slight vinegar/cider flavor and aroma in lager

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HossTheGreat

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I brewed up a standard american lager a few months ago. Did a 90 minute boil, pitched Saflager S-23 a little cooler than I normally would but not quite at fermentation temps (prob around 60 degrees). I did not do a D rest. I let it sit in the primary for about 3 weeks and racked it to a secondary and added knox gelatin. At this point, everything tasted and smelled fine. I then lagered the beer for about 4 weeks and then racked to a keg. At this point, I could smell a very faint cider/vinegar smell to the beer. I let it sit another week in the keg to carb up. When I poured the first pint, it smelled the same and did have a faint cider/wine taste to it. It's been about 3 weeks in the keg and both the aroma and taste are pretty much the same. I don't think it's gotten any worse, but it certainly hasn't gotten any better. Just wondering if I might be dealing with an acetero bacter infection or if it may be something that could fade with time. I figure I'll just let it sit for a few more weeks to see what happens...if it doesn't get any better, I may dump it (1st one in 20+ batches :( )
 
Cidery flavors can have several causes but are often the result of adding too much cane or corn sugar to a recipe. One component of a cidery flavor is acetaldehyde which has a green-apple character. It is a common fermentation byproduct and different yeasts will produce different levels of it depending on the recipe and temperature. Cidery flavors are encouraged by warmer than normal temperatures and can be decreased by lagering.

If it is caused by aceto bacteria, then there is nothing to be done about it. Keep the fruit flies away from the fermentor next time.

Symptom: It smells like vinegar.

Cause 1: Bacteria In this case, it probably is. Aceto bacteria (vinegar producing) and Lacto bacteria (lactic acid producing) are common contaminates in breweries. Sometimes the infection will produce sweet smells like malt vinegar, other times they will produce cidery smells. It will depend on which bug is living in your wort. Aceto bacteria often produce ropy strands of jelly which can be a good visual indicator, as can excessive cloudiness, after several weeks in the fermentor (although some cloudiness is not unusual, especially in all-grain beers).
Cure: If you don't like the taste, then pour it out. Lactic infections are desired in some beer styles.

Cause 2: Wild Yeast/Bacteria Two other bugs are also common, Brettanomyces and Pediococcus. Brettanomyces is supposed to smell like horse sweat or a horse blanket. Raise your hand if you know what a horse smells like. From sweat, I mean. Anyone? I think Brettanomyces smells like leather, myself. Pediococcus can produce diacetyl and acidic aromas and flavors.

One man's garbage can be another man's gold though. These two cultures and Lacto bacteria are actually essential to the Belgian Lambic beer styles. Under other circumstances and styles, beers that taste like Lambics would be discarded instead of being carefully nurtured and blended over a two year period. Lambic beers have a pronounced tartness with fruity overtones. This type of beer is very refreshing and is excellent with heavy food.
Cure: Be meticulous in your sanitation or investigate Lambic brewing.
 
Thanks for the info. I force carbed in the keg, so I didn't add any corn sugar. Also, I don't thing temp was an issue. I have everything temperature controlled. I also have good sanitization practices. The only thing that I can think of is that something happened at the time I added the gelatin/racked to secondary. I guess I'll let it sit in the keg for a few more weeks. If it doesn't get any better, I'll probably just dump it.
 

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