help with undesirable beer smell

Ok, i created a batch of saison utilizing the recipe from Breis. The flavor is good, and everything seems to be alright except, it smells oily. I performed a search and this is what i found at http://www.morebeer.com/content/homebrew-off-flavors:

Although I have read about people leaving beer in the primary for months, I only had it in my primary for 2 weeks before moving to secondary.
I attempted to dry hop using Sorachi Ace hops (same hops that i utilized during boil). The brew is currently in a keg, and i am thinking about an attempt to dry hop with something other that Sorachi Ace, this was my first time utilizing Sorachi Ace, and it could be that i just don't like the smell from them. What should i utilize, and at this point will it help? i would prefer more of a fruity/ spicy smell.

 

What yeast did you use and what was the fermentation temp for the 2 weeks?

I've left beers in the primary for 3-6 months with no ill affects so I don't think that would be the case here. I never secondary and I've never had any issues.

I'd dry hop it with something that would give you that fruity/spicy smell then package it up. It could condition out or you could just be smelling the by products of fermentation since it's only 2 weeks old.

idk how long you've been brewing for but I keep my beers in the primary for 3 weeks so the yeast have time to clean things up after fermentation is complete. I've always gotten clean tasting beer this way so I've never really changed my process. The only time I'll do 2 weeks is if I've brewed the recipe a bunch of times and know that I don't need the 3 weeks on the yeast cake. Idk... give it a shot and see if it helps on the next batch.

 

I utilized some repitched Sasionsteins monster from omega yeast. I've used this yeast in the past. I don't think that it was the time spent in the primary, and it attenuated all the way down to 1.000 from 1.060. this is my first time utilizing Sorachi Ace hops, so i am inclined to believe that its the smell of the hops that i don't care for. i haven't been brewing for that long, but i never had an issue with pulling from the primary before 3 weeks. The beer tastes good, it't the smell that i don't care for.

I've done some more reading about Sorachi Ace hops, and while no one mentioned an oily smell, there seems to be a concensus that Sorachi Ace isn't a very good hop when used on its own. ill dry hop with citra or something similar.

 

Right on.

If it's just the smell, and you've use this yeast before with the same temps, then you might be right. It could just be the hops. Same water, same everything, then maybe brew it again with different hops?

 

Id be willing to bet it was the sorachi ace hops. They just arent for everyone. I do a black saison hopped with mostly sorachi ace and the last one I did I went a bit overboard with them. The end beer tasted like I spilled a bit of lemon lysol spray into the keg. Exactl like you are describing, definitely "soapy". But for me it was more in the taste. I had to let it sit and calm down for a few months before I enjoyed it

 

I figured as much considering i have done batches with similar ingredients. It could have a flavor issue, but when i plugged my nose and tasted the beer, it really that bad. dont gget me wrong i tasted alot better but it wasn't bad.. I went to the HBS and picked up 4 oz of hops for dry hopping. The hbs owner agreed with us about sorachi as well. its the last time i use that hop, especially by itself.

wheres what i got to dry hop with:
1oz Hallertau Blanc
2oz Mosaic
1oz Simcoe.

I figure just toss them in the keg, and let them do their thing. The beer will get better eventually. make it ipa-ish.

 

update:

I used 1oz of Mosaic and 1oz of Simcoe, and threw the rest in the freezer. I'll use them with my next batch.

 

Huge difference, it tastes great and smells even better now. Next time i brew, i will utilize the same grain build, but change the flavoring hops Sorachi ace doesn't fit the bill.