I have bubbles/foam, but it tastes flat

This has been an ongoing problem since I started brewing. I've done probably 7 or 8 batches and they all do the same thing. I get bubbles and a head, but it tastes almost flat. It does it no matter how long I let the bottles condition and it does it when I keg too. I have upped my cleaning and gotten even more anal on sanitation. It has improved the other qualities of the beer, but the flat mouth feel is the same. I use between 3/4 and 1 cup of corn sugar to prime. I have even primed with DME. I even prime going into the keg and then place the CO2 on it. Any ideas?

 

Could any of your cleaning leave some type of soap residue in your equipment or glassware?

 

Sounds more like a recipe issue than a carbonation issue. Maybe try adding some maltodextrin to you recipe to increase body or mouthfeel. Perhaps a higher mash temp if you're doing all grain? Sometime mashing for too long can leave a finished beer with a watery or thin mouthfeel could it perhaps be this that you're experiencing as if you have bubbles and head you obviously have carbonation. Just my .02. If I'm off I'm sure someone else will be along shortly to correct any mistakes I might have deduced.

 

I think it sounds like a recipe problem too. I had this problem when I did extract only beers. They were beer, but the mouthfeel was like water or soda.

So I started steeping a pound of base malt and 4 - 8oz of Carapils to recipes and that helped a lot. From there I started doing some BIAB style mini-mashes.

 

The first two I did were extract only. After that I have done partials. I did make up a couple recipes on my own, but most were recipes that I either got from a book or the homebrew store. I rinse all my gear really well. The soap I get from the HBS. It should be rinsing nice and clean. I rinse the bottles after I use them, then when I go to bottle, I run them through the dishwasher with the soap from the HBS, rinse one more time, then sanitize and bottle.

 

My wife just told me that she puts Jet Dry in the dishwasher :angry: I bet that is it.

 

Oops!

-Sapp

 

Just take your glass and put a teaspoon of baking soda in it and a little water to make a paste, then scrub the inside of the glass, then rinse it thoroughly. Then have a beer, or two.

 

I'm not sure jet dry will affect mouthfeel. Head retention for sure.

BTW, you know what works better than jet dry?

Vinegar. Toss 1/4 cup or a little less in. Keeps hard water spots off the dishes. We started using it when phosphorus dish soap was banned here.

 

It does have a similar feel to some cask ales I have had. I like it, but I feel weird sharing it with people who are used to commercial beers being so bubbly.