Ok. My first 3 batches of homebrew are pretty gross. All 3 are plagued with a similar off flavor that I can only describe as a mix of a band aid taste mixed with a solvent taste. It's also somewhat watery tasting. It's been a frustrating journey so far. I'm trying to pin down where I'm going wrong before I brew anymore. These were all 5 gallon extract kits. I made sure to read a lot of posts on this site and was careful with my sanitation. Please weigh in with your thoughts. Any help tracking down this problem is greatly appreciated.
1)Pale Ale, 5 gallons extract kit. My first attempt. 3 days in primary, 2 weeks in secondary, used Nottingham dry yeast that came with kit, topped off with prima filtered water with minerals added, Carbed well after 5 weeks in bottles, tasted like ass as described above. Used no rinse cleaner from LHBS that the kit came from. Fermentation temp was 72-75. (read more posts afterwards and learned to leave it in the primary longer)
2)IPA, 5 gallon extract kit. used dry yeast that came with kit that I rehydrated, 3 weeks in primary and then bottled. Used no rinse cleaner again. Topped off with spring water, Carbed well after 5 weeks in bottles again. Tasted a touch better than my first batch but still off. Fermentation temp 72-75. (read more posts afterwards and decided to try StarSan for my next batch)
3)AHS Pumpkin Ale. 5 gallon extract kit. used white labs liquid yeast that came with kit and I made a starter this time around. Topped off with spring water, 4 weeks in primary and 3 weeks in bottles so far. This time I used StarSan hoping the no rinse I used in my previous batches was part of the problem. Had a taste last night, provided it's only been 3 weeks, I can taste that off flavor in it again. I plan to give it another 2 weeks but this is getting frustrating. Fermentation temp 72-75 again.
If I had to guess, I would say my fermentation temps are part of the problem or maybe my primary Ale bucket. What do you all think?
This week I made a no boil Brewferm kit (Abbey) that is a half batch, 9 liters and it's fermenting in a 3 gallon better bottle that I bought. I used StarSan again and I'm hoping there will be a difference in this one. I also made an AHS Oberon clone extract kit last night. I used white labs liquid yeast that came with the kit and made a starter. I'm feeling more comfortable with the process now that I've made 5 batches now I just need to find where I'm going wrong. Please weigh in. Trying to be patient here cos beer is worth it.
1)Pale Ale, 5 gallons extract kit. My first attempt. 3 days in primary, 2 weeks in secondary, used Nottingham dry yeast that came with kit, topped off with prima filtered water with minerals added, Carbed well after 5 weeks in bottles, tasted like ass as described above. Used no rinse cleaner from LHBS that the kit came from. Fermentation temp was 72-75. (read more posts afterwards and learned to leave it in the primary longer)
2)IPA, 5 gallon extract kit. used dry yeast that came with kit that I rehydrated, 3 weeks in primary and then bottled. Used no rinse cleaner again. Topped off with spring water, Carbed well after 5 weeks in bottles again. Tasted a touch better than my first batch but still off. Fermentation temp 72-75. (read more posts afterwards and decided to try StarSan for my next batch)
3)AHS Pumpkin Ale. 5 gallon extract kit. used white labs liquid yeast that came with kit and I made a starter this time around. Topped off with spring water, 4 weeks in primary and 3 weeks in bottles so far. This time I used StarSan hoping the no rinse I used in my previous batches was part of the problem. Had a taste last night, provided it's only been 3 weeks, I can taste that off flavor in it again. I plan to give it another 2 weeks but this is getting frustrating. Fermentation temp 72-75 again.
If I had to guess, I would say my fermentation temps are part of the problem or maybe my primary Ale bucket. What do you all think?
This week I made a no boil Brewferm kit (Abbey) that is a half batch, 9 liters and it's fermenting in a 3 gallon better bottle that I bought. I used StarSan again and I'm hoping there will be a difference in this one. I also made an AHS Oberon clone extract kit last night. I used white labs liquid yeast that came with the kit and made a starter. I'm feeling more comfortable with the process now that I've made 5 batches now I just need to find where I'm going wrong. Please weigh in. Trying to be patient here cos beer is worth it.