wvlheel
Active Member
I just tried my 3rd attempt at homebrewing. The first two batches (APA and amber ale kits) were very mediocre. They were drinkable, but each had a sweet / twangy aftertaste that I didn't care for at all. Both tasted very similar. I worried this was extract "twang" and wouldn't be able to make good beer.
My third batch was a Brewer's Best AltBier kit. I just tried it after two weeks of bottle conditioning and (while under carbed) it tastes great. The beer is extremely clean tasting.
I did two things quite differently with this beer based upon information that I learned on this site.
1. I used a swamp cooler to keep fermentation temps in the mid 60's.
2. I cold conditioned in a refrigerator (recommended by Kaiser for this style of beer) for about 10 days before bottling.
The beer is clear as a bell and tastes extremely clean, there are no off-flavors that my limited tastebuds can detect.
My question is which of these modifications made the difference (or both)? Should I now cold condition everything prior to bottling? I will if it makes this much of a difference but it does add time to the process. Fermentation temperature control is now a must.
Finally, I just upgraded my account as a big thank you for the information I have received from this site.
My third batch was a Brewer's Best AltBier kit. I just tried it after two weeks of bottle conditioning and (while under carbed) it tastes great. The beer is extremely clean tasting.
I did two things quite differently with this beer based upon information that I learned on this site.
1. I used a swamp cooler to keep fermentation temps in the mid 60's.
2. I cold conditioned in a refrigerator (recommended by Kaiser for this style of beer) for about 10 days before bottling.
The beer is clear as a bell and tastes extremely clean, there are no off-flavors that my limited tastebuds can detect.
My question is which of these modifications made the difference (or both)? Should I now cold condition everything prior to bottling? I will if it makes this much of a difference but it does add time to the process. Fermentation temperature control is now a must.
Finally, I just upgraded my account as a big thank you for the information I have received from this site.