A little too sweet

[naristov]

Hi guys,

I'm new to this site and new to homebrewing (I did a few batches with MrBrew a few years back and now moved up to partial mash in a 5 gallon bucket). I just tasted a sample of my first brew before bottling (An Irish Stout) and it tasted a little too sweet. I do not have OG or FG (mostly because im an idiot). I was just wondering what possible reasons for the sweet taste. My thoughts are

1) The stove I have does not bring to a "hard" enough boil for the hops? (I didn't have a way to read the temp either).

2) I didn't use a starter for the yeast and or didn't put enough o2 in while pitching.

3) Fermentation wasn't done? It was in for about 4 weeks there was signs of airlock activity within the first 24 hours but stopped after about 48. (I know this isn't an accurate way to judge)


I plan to make a heat stick to help with the boil or possibly doing it in two smaller pots.

 

[ronclark]

What recipe did you use? Is it possible that you simply used a recipe for a sweeter stout than you had hoped for?

 

[naristov]

6 lb. Dark liquid malt extract, 4 oz. Chocolate Malt, 4 oz. Caramel 10L, 4 oz. Roasted Barley, 4 oz. Flaked Barley specialty grain, 1 tsp. Gypsum, 1/2 oz. Nugget, 1 oz. Willamette pellet hops, yeast, priming sugar and a grain bag.


It's possible.....but even for a stout it was pretty sweet.

 

[Schmutzie]

6 lb. Dark liquid malt extract, 4 oz. Chocolate Malt, 4 oz. Caramel 10L, 4 oz. Roasted Barley, 4 oz. Flaked Barley specialty grain, 1 tsp. Gypsum, 1/2 oz. Nugget, 1 oz. Willamette pellet hops, yeast, priming sugar and a grain bag.

It's possible.....but even for a stout it was pretty sweet.

Did you sample it after you added the bottling sugar?

 

[naristov]

Did you sample it after you added the bottling sugar?

Nope, before.

 

[ronclark]

Nope, before.

I brewed a wee heavy that tasted very sweet prior to bottling and priming. It was not that way at all once it was primed and conditioned. I did not even think of that possibility.

 

[beergolf]

Carbonation will knock some of the sweetness down. Give it some time and then taste it after a few weeks. I am betting that it will change.

 

[anengineer]

..., yeast, ....

Exactly which yeast did you use?

 

[naristov]

Exactly which yeast did you use?

I don't recall what strain. It was a dry yeast that came with the kit. I hope that the carbonation will knock out some of the sweetness. I was just looking ways to improve my next batch. I bought liquid yeast this time and I hope to make a heat stick to increase the boil. Thanks for all the help. I will let you guys know how it turns out in a few weeks.

 

[Leggoma]

My first brew was a little sweet before bottling (before adding priming sugar) as well. I'm happy to report that the carbonation process killed the sweetness and the flavor really developed well over the 3 week process. It doesn't taste like it did when I bottled. I'd imagine your beer will be fine.

 

[H-ost]

That recipe doesn't look like it will be too bitter. Maybe you did just expect a hoppier stout.

How vigorous the boil is isn't going to affect the hop utilization as much as you think it will, you said you don't have a thermometer but if it is boiling it is definitely hot enough to extract the Alpha Acids.

Rather than investing in a heat stick I would suggest buying a hydrometer (i think 20$). If you had a hydrometer for this batch and used it there would be no guessing if the yeast were viable or if your fermentation stalled too soon.

 

[Sardoman]

^ +1

 

[naristov]

Thanks guys. I tasted the beer today (a little over a week after bottling) and it taste great not too sweet. A little over carbonated for my likes though.

Rather than investing in a heat stick I would suggest buying a hydrometer (i think 20$). If you had a hydrometer for this batch and used it there would be no guessing if the yeast were viable or if your fermentation stalled too soon.

I have a hydrometer, I just was unable to get a sample for the OG with out risk of contamination (poor planning). I didn't think to take a sample to test before bottling because I didn't have the OG. I just did another batch yesterday and was able to bring 3 gallons of water to a healthy boil. Thanks