CaliBrewin
Well-Known Member
So on and off ive noticed my beers with the same faint or sometimes very pronounced plastic flavor. I KNOW WHAT YOURE THINKING. but before you jump to conclusions, hear me out.
I have been brewing for 1.5 yrs now, and i still havent really hit a level of satisfaction with my brews. i feel i have a respectable amount of knowledge, which i have aquired from this glorious website and books on brewing. i REALLY need to figure out why all my hard work and efforts are returning such disappointing results.
first, allow me to explain my brewing process. I do 5 Gal all-grain batches, mashed in a 5 gal circular rubbermaid cooler with SS braid, double batch sparges, w/ an 8 Gal kettle for the boil, IC gets wort down to <80 in ~15 min. i ferment in a dedicated beer fridge with a temp controller, so fermentation temps are always steady and well in range. i always do 1L starters of my washed yeasts (mostly WLP001 and 002) with usually at least 8 hours on a stirplate (high-krausening). i check to make sure the starters smell good before pitching. I only secondary for dry hopping or some other "special" reason. i make sure the beer is done fermenting before racking. i do both bottling and kegging, but keg most often. my sanitation is good, but not the best. although, im fairly certain that is not the cause.
so ive been brainstorming and researching and have come up with what i think the possibilities are for the off flavor.
1) most likely i think could be chlorine in the water. i have always used hose water for my brewing. i always thought the hose water tasted fine but my father says he can taste the chlorine. so i just brewed up two 5 Gal batches 1 week ago from today (double brew day) making sure to use campden tablets to treat the water before adding to my HLT. so i suppose we'll find out if that cures my problem in about 2 weeks.
2) what i think is less likely, infection.
this leads me to my water dilemma. i would like to send a water sample to ward labs to find out my waters composition.
should i send them a sample straight from the hose? from the tap w/out the hose? should i get a big charcoal filter for the hose and then send them a sample from that?
i am asking anyone and everyone: what are your opinions on my plastic taste? and what would you do in my situation?
i am a dedicated brewer who has been down on his luck and still been putting in a LOT of effort. please help me HBT, youre my only hope.
I have been brewing for 1.5 yrs now, and i still havent really hit a level of satisfaction with my brews. i feel i have a respectable amount of knowledge, which i have aquired from this glorious website and books on brewing. i REALLY need to figure out why all my hard work and efforts are returning such disappointing results.
first, allow me to explain my brewing process. I do 5 Gal all-grain batches, mashed in a 5 gal circular rubbermaid cooler with SS braid, double batch sparges, w/ an 8 Gal kettle for the boil, IC gets wort down to <80 in ~15 min. i ferment in a dedicated beer fridge with a temp controller, so fermentation temps are always steady and well in range. i always do 1L starters of my washed yeasts (mostly WLP001 and 002) with usually at least 8 hours on a stirplate (high-krausening). i check to make sure the starters smell good before pitching. I only secondary for dry hopping or some other "special" reason. i make sure the beer is done fermenting before racking. i do both bottling and kegging, but keg most often. my sanitation is good, but not the best. although, im fairly certain that is not the cause.
so ive been brainstorming and researching and have come up with what i think the possibilities are for the off flavor.
1) most likely i think could be chlorine in the water. i have always used hose water for my brewing. i always thought the hose water tasted fine but my father says he can taste the chlorine. so i just brewed up two 5 Gal batches 1 week ago from today (double brew day) making sure to use campden tablets to treat the water before adding to my HLT. so i suppose we'll find out if that cures my problem in about 2 weeks.
2) what i think is less likely, infection.
this leads me to my water dilemma. i would like to send a water sample to ward labs to find out my waters composition.
should i send them a sample straight from the hose? from the tap w/out the hose? should i get a big charcoal filter for the hose and then send them a sample from that?
i am asking anyone and everyone: what are your opinions on my plastic taste? and what would you do in my situation?
i am a dedicated brewer who has been down on his luck and still been putting in a LOT of effort. please help me HBT, youre my only hope.