2nd batch, absolutely horrible

[jrodder]

Just a quick vent. 2nd batch in the keg today, after 3 weeks in primary at around 66-68 degrees. Not infected as far as I can tell, there weren't any funkies in there, fast fermentation. First batch was the Furious kit from Midwest. It was somewhat drinkable, but a really bad off flavor, I think it was a combination of yeast and plastic.

Next batch was probably too experimental, but I'm not really one for wading into things. I like to sink or swim. Graham Cracker Ale.

Taste is *really* bad. Fresh wort didn't taste all that bad, just bitter. None of this current flavor which is just about undrinkable. Very strong smell and taste of what I suppose is the plastic/band-aid flavor.

I am going to guess there's chlorine in the tap water. I can't get a water profile online, all they had was a public one with toxics reported, not just general makeup. The chemist for the town water supply is on vacation. I am tempted to take the sample to the LHBS and see if they say the same.

Just pretty bummed, SWMBO is watching me throw 45 bucks at a batch of beer that I might have to just toss. What's worse is I have in the bucket a batch of what is supposed to be Zombie Dust with citra that seems to be hard to get. I hope that one is at least drinkable.

/end sob story

 

[F250]

First off, at 3 weeks it's quite green. Secondly, might be best to follow the recipe till you know what's going to happen vs just winging it.

Rick

 

[duboman]

Chlorine or Chloramines can cause the off flavor you described but so to can an infection.

If you have chlorinated water or are using bleach that's a problem. Try your next batch using R/O or bottled water and see what happens.

In addition and because you keg and this is not the first bad batch, when was the last time you broke down your system and cleaned EVERYTHING? there are many threads from people that think they do a good job only to tear apart their lines, taps, popits, couplers, etc and come back to say "holy @#$% you wouldn't believe the amount of gunk I found in the ____________!"

 

[jrodder]

Chlorine or Chloramines can cause the off flavor you described but so to can an infection.

If you have chlorinated water or are using bleach that's a problem. Try your next batch using R/O or bottled water and see what happens.

In addition and because you keg and this is not the first bad batch, when was the last time you broke down your system and cleaned EVERYTHING? there are many threads from people that think they do a good job only to tear apart their lines, taps, popits, couplers, etc and come back to say "holy @#$% you wouldn't believe the amount of gunk I found in the ____________!"

Yes, good tips. I didn't use any bleach, only starsan on everything. I am ruling out the keg as a problem, considering it's been in there for 24 hours carbing. If it was infection, would it be the same flavor twice? I'll post back if the third batch is the same. If that's the case, I will switch up the water.

I understand it's "green", but trust me if you tasted this you'd see what I am talking about lol. I don't thik this flavor is going anywhere. It's not like a "oh, I think I taste something off, maybe phenols?" It's a "wow, this is really terrible. Did someone spike this with Agent Orange?"

I followed recipes, there was no winging it.

 

[unionrdr]

Soilent green is people!!! It could be you either have a lot of chloromines in your water. Or some part of your keg isn't completely clean. Like tight spots.

 

[aiptasia]

Clean everything with starsan and check your fermenting buckets for scratches. Trust me, they do scratch easily and I won't use anything harsher than a paper towel and my fingertips to clean them out. Even a micro-nick can harbor bad bugs. A well stocked LHBS might have sanitary bucket liner bags in stock, and if you suspect scratches and dings, these are a cheaper and more sanitary solution than buying new buckets.

Second, clean everything (i'm sure you're already doing this).

Third, give it another go with distilled or reverse osmosis (bottled) water. You might also use a little yeast nutrient as well.

 

[jrodder]

The buckets are brand new, so not scratched. So buy what, some spring water in a bottle? I understand I don't want actual pure water, just some water that has the minerals just not all the stuff that may be in my tap water.

I'm just rather bummed. I was thinking that for an infection, it would take some time to take hold, especially if it was coming from the kegs. I'll go ahead and totally break everything down, and get some fresh water until I can talk to the water department chemist and see if my suspicions are correct.

 

[FATC1TY]

Yeah, get some bottled spring water. Buy some jugs, or get some jugs/bottles filled from a machine in the store that does the filtered water.

Try that out.

Or, get some campden tablets and try your water again.

 

[shizzy77]

is this a new to you keg system?

 

[chickypad]

I would second the campden tablets if you don't want to buy RO or spring water - they're cheap. About a year ago we suddenly had a few batches with horrible plasticy taste, I think our city changed to using chloramines. We otherwise have awesome water for brewing so I tried the campden and it totally fixed the problem.

 

[jrodder]

I would second the campden tablets if you don't want to buy RO or spring water - they're cheap. About a year ago we suddenly had a few batches with horrible plasticy taste, I think our city changed to using chloramines. We otherwise have awesome water for brewing so I tried the campden and it totally fixed the problem.

So, I looked them up.

http://www.midwestsupplies.com/purpose-of-campden-tablets.html

I had to look it up elsewhere since chloramines weren't mentioned in there at all. I never would have noticed that. Our water tastes great really, so I will get these tablets and give it a whirl. I sneaked a taste from the Zombie Dust which is about 14 days, and "the taste" is much less in that batch, but there. Maybe I am lucky that all the delicious hops might mask it, or it takes another week or 2 to come into being.

Thanks for the tips on the tablets guys, I have newfound hope. Cheap solutions I like.

 

[FATC1TY]

Good luck with it.. The thing with chloramines is that you don't really notice them in the water like chlorine. Hence the reason places change it to for some reasons.

Try the tablets out, see if it works, but I'd suggest going back through your stuff.. Siphons, buckets/carboys, and keg stuff as well still.