I posted on here a few weeks ago about an Imperial IPA I brewed. When I added to the carboy after boiling, I couldn't get an OG because the wort was so thick, it wouldn't mix with the water for a few days (despite vigorous shaking). So, I have no OG. The recipe I used had 10 pounds of LME, a pound of crystal grains and a pound of maris otter grains, so I know this is one huge mutha of an IPA. I used one vial of White labs california ale yeast. I don't think the hops are relevant to my current question.
At any rate, being only my second batch, I realize now after reading on here that I did not leave it in the fermenter long enough. (My first batch fermented for 7 days and conditioned in the bottle for 2 weeks and was great, but it was a much smaller beer). Not knowing any better until now, this beer was only in the primary for 2 weeks before I bottled. While the airlock had stopped bubbling, I'm still worried I bottled too soon.
After a week in the bottle, I tried one and it was horrible. The carbonation wasn't all the way there, so I'm not worried about bottle bombs, but the beer tasted like jet fuel or like it was mixed with vodka or something. I think I hopped adequately for this beast because the bitterness was nice, but the alcohol aftertaste was just nasty.
I know that one week in the bottle is way too soon for any ale to taste good, but I want to try one every week so I can learn hoe beer improves with age. This one was so bad though, I'm worried.
Will this insanely high alcohol taste mellow out after a month or so in the bottles, or is this batch just ruined because I didn't leave it in the primary long enough?
Sorry I don't have hydrometer readings. I'm still really knew at this and realize now that this was my second major mistake.
Thank you guys so much; this forum is awesome.
At any rate, being only my second batch, I realize now after reading on here that I did not leave it in the fermenter long enough. (My first batch fermented for 7 days and conditioned in the bottle for 2 weeks and was great, but it was a much smaller beer). Not knowing any better until now, this beer was only in the primary for 2 weeks before I bottled. While the airlock had stopped bubbling, I'm still worried I bottled too soon.
After a week in the bottle, I tried one and it was horrible. The carbonation wasn't all the way there, so I'm not worried about bottle bombs, but the beer tasted like jet fuel or like it was mixed with vodka or something. I think I hopped adequately for this beast because the bitterness was nice, but the alcohol aftertaste was just nasty.
I know that one week in the bottle is way too soon for any ale to taste good, but I want to try one every week so I can learn hoe beer improves with age. This one was so bad though, I'm worried.
Will this insanely high alcohol taste mellow out after a month or so in the bottles, or is this batch just ruined because I didn't leave it in the primary long enough?
Sorry I don't have hydrometer readings. I'm still really knew at this and realize now that this was my second major mistake.
Thank you guys so much; this forum is awesome.