LeverTime
Well-Known Member
I brewed my first beer, a Brewer's Best IPA kit a few weeks ago. I let it sit in the primary bucket for seven days. On day six and day seven it had the same specific gravity, so I assumed it was done. I racked it to the bottling bucket and bottled it. Two weeks later I opened the first one. It wasn't very carbonated, and it tasted slighly watery. It was not the best IPA ever, but it was definitely drinkable. I drank a few and decided to wait another week to let the rest carbonate. Now it tastes bad. I think "sour" is the right description. Basically, it tastes like an IPA at first, but the aftertaste is horrible, and it leaves your mouth feeling dry.
I did a number of things wrong making this. First, I used about 5.5 gallons of liquid instead of 5 gallons. Next, when I racked it into the bottling bucket I held the siphon near the top of the bucket, rather than putting the siphon on the bottom of the bucket, which probably aerated it. Then, I bottled it using the spigot on the bucket directly, rather than using the bottling cane, which probably aerated it some more. Finally, I turned the AC off during the day once it was in the bottles, and it may have gotten up to 80-90 degrees during that time. (I kept the room at ~70 when it was in the primary.)
Is there any hope for this beer? I've got two cases left in my basement, and I don't want to throw them away!
I did a number of things wrong making this. First, I used about 5.5 gallons of liquid instead of 5 gallons. Next, when I racked it into the bottling bucket I held the siphon near the top of the bucket, rather than putting the siphon on the bottom of the bucket, which probably aerated it. Then, I bottled it using the spigot on the bucket directly, rather than using the bottling cane, which probably aerated it some more. Finally, I turned the AC off during the day once it was in the bottles, and it may have gotten up to 80-90 degrees during that time. (I kept the room at ~70 when it was in the primary.)
Is there any hope for this beer? I've got two cases left in my basement, and I don't want to throw them away!