A thank you and a question.

[CaptainArgo]

Hello, HBT! Long time listener, first time caller.
Before anything else, I'd like to thank all the members here for all the wonderful information I've found on this forum, especially those who took the time to write up the guides and stickies that I have found totally invaluable in the research I did on the way to attempting my first brew.

Speaking of which -- that first brew is just about ready to bottle, and I've got a question. I took a hydrometer sample the other night; my package of WY3711 had taken it from an OG of 1.053 down to 1.005 over the course of a week. Of course I had to taste the sample, and it was delicious However....

It was just a teensy bit hot and alcoholic on the finish. Hardly noticeable, but it was there. My question is, is this something that I should expect to mellow out after it does some secondary fermentation in the bottle? Is it just because the beer is still young, or did I mess something up?

I also have a related question about the yeast. I made a mistake when pitching them in that I totally forgot to take them out of the fridge early and tossed them in the wort when they were still pretty cold. I warmed them up for 10 mins or so, but that's all; I just didn't think about it until after I did it. Could stressing the yeast out with that temperature change have contributed to the hot taste? Or is that more a function of temperature than yeast stress? Or is it just normal? I have heard of people pitching cold yeast on purpose before, but I wasn't sure what the effects might be.

 

[helibrewer]

What was your fermentation temp? That's not a huge beer so carbonation, cooling, and a little time might just do the trick for that alcohol sensation you noted. I do find it to be more prevalent in green beer (non-carbed, non-aged).

 

[CaptainArgo]

The ambient temperature during fermentation stayed in the 72-74F range the whole time. Which seems a little high in general, but from what I understand that saison yeast has an ideal temperature range up to about 77, and some people run it even warmer.

 

[WileECoyote]

Hello, The taste of a week old beer is never going to taste like a finished beer, most of the time it will be green, watery, alcohol, and sometimes a bit sour too.

Saisons fermenting hot like they do, normally have a bit of alcohol bite when young, it will fade with some age, give it some time before you get worried.

Cheers and congrats on making beer

 

[CaptainArgo]

Thanks for the reassurance, guys
It's hard to wait, but I'm looking forward to popping the top on one of these once it matures for a little while!