bernerbrau
Well-Known Member
I've got 2 lagers on gas that are undrinkable. Both have been at ~32 degrees for 2 months now.
The first one, I messed up when pitching the starter. It was a HUGE starter, but I forgot to decant it. As a result it has always tasted fruity. Now that some time has passed, however, it tastes less fruity and more like cardboard and cough syrup.
The second one tasted outstanding, until it hit the keg, when it took on this harsh bitterness that's either rubbery or like band-aids. I had assumed the defect is sulfur, which needs time to lager out, but it also tastes and smells very similar to the smell of CO2 coming straight out of the tank, or when I pull the relief valves. Two months in, and the harsh sulfury/bitter/band-aid taste has not "aged" or "lagered" out. Two weeks ago I thought maybe it had smoothed out a bit, but now I'm not sure.
So here's my dilemma. These two kegs are holding back my pipeline. I don't want to dump, just in case they do manage to improve. However, as long as the kegs are occupied, I can't put anything new on tap until the third keg kicks.
Is it time to dump? Or should I just buy two new kegs, and set these two aside?
The first one, I messed up when pitching the starter. It was a HUGE starter, but I forgot to decant it. As a result it has always tasted fruity. Now that some time has passed, however, it tastes less fruity and more like cardboard and cough syrup.
The second one tasted outstanding, until it hit the keg, when it took on this harsh bitterness that's either rubbery or like band-aids. I had assumed the defect is sulfur, which needs time to lager out, but it also tastes and smells very similar to the smell of CO2 coming straight out of the tank, or when I pull the relief valves. Two months in, and the harsh sulfury/bitter/band-aid taste has not "aged" or "lagered" out. Two weeks ago I thought maybe it had smoothed out a bit, but now I'm not sure.
So here's my dilemma. These two kegs are holding back my pipeline. I don't want to dump, just in case they do manage to improve. However, as long as the kegs are occupied, I can't put anything new on tap until the third keg kicks.
Is it time to dump? Or should I just buy two new kegs, and set these two aside?