Afraid to ask, but too frustrated not to....

[Malty_Dog]

No, cause:
1) SWMBO'd says no, and
2) The POS can't get more then ~10L of water to a boil.

B

Ah, got it. My gas stove takes a loooong time for anything over 4 gallons.

 

[Clonefan94]

My first gues would be the dish soap. That stuff is nasty and will impart a "sour" tinge to anything that isn't thourouly rinsed.

 

[progmac]

my first thought based on your descriptors is that you are steeping grains above 170 degrees -- double check your thermometers and make sure you aren't doing this.

my second thought is infection, replace the bucket and you should be good if that is the cause.

my final thought is that you are falling victim to more common off-flavor causes like underpitching yeast or fermenting too warm and you are although you have a sensitive pallet, are not great at describing taste.

 

[bell0347]

There's been a lot of reports of infections in the plastic spigot on bottling buckets. They are very hard to clean once infection gets in there if its not one that you can take apart fully. You may want to try to replace it.

On dishsoap, not recommended because it affects head retention but I doubt that's your taste issue. I like oxyclean though. Works as well as pbw in my opinion and is WAY cheaper (use oxyclean free, no perfume).

Bingo on the bottling bucket spigot issue. Ruined a couple of batches that way. Now I disassemble EVERYTHING and clean well with PBW then put it away. Use your starsan as others have described. Since doing this and switching to glass fermenters I have been on a roll.

 

[Johnnyhitch1]

Not sure if anyone said it but if your not getting a good rolling boil or leaving the lid on for that matter you might not be driving off enough DMS precursers. Where it tastes fine when its sweet wort but the yeast will convert those evil suckers into a cooked corn bomb. Just my .02....sorry if it was already mentioned

 

[Sheridan197]

What kind of bottling wand are you using?

The spring-loaded ones can get full of yucky stuff if you don't take them apart and clean the spring.

Good call on the bottle bucket spigot as well. I once found an earwig in mine after I bottled a batch.

Wouldn't that make it a 'beer wig'?

 

[billpaustin]

I'm on it, guys. Thank you so much. Replacing plastic fermentation bucket, bottling spigot and tubing. PBW on order. Shopping for a turkey fryer now because the thought of brewing outside up here is a pleasant one! I really appreciate all your help. Optimistic now! Will report back with (hopefully) good news!

I should get serious. I bought two turkey-friers, and got two propane tanks, and two 22qt stock pots. Two batches takes the same amount of time as one, right?

It's still warm here, mid-80's in the daytime. In July, it should start raining, and then I'll sit on the deck, watch it rain, and cook like crazy :rockin:

 

[Sheridan197]

Just a question of curiosity
When you bottle the beer does it taste sour then or after you bottle it?

The last batch I brewed tasted ok when I bottled it, but I tried a bottle a week later and it was sour. Left it for three weeks and tried another bottle, it was the same.

 

[Sheridan197]

If there are any experienced home brewers (or better yet a BJCP judge) in your area you could always ask one of them to sample your beer and help identify if it the flavor is an infection, off-flavor from your process or contamination.

Someone else had asked but I didn't see your response - are you doing extract, partial grain or full grain? If you steep/mash your grains too hot that can definitely give you unwanted flavors in the beer.

Extract only thus far. It seemed to me that if I can't brew from a kit, I sure couldn't do anything more complex!
There aren't any home brewers in my neck of the woods. We're in a little town of 18 people. We're about 90 minutes out of Denver, and I'm sure I could take a bottle to the Home Brew store down there. However, I dumped them all out after my last abysmal failure!

 

[brokebucket]

Has anybody mentioned water yet? What water are you using? I have had water issues with some beers but not with others....I think some minerals can react with certain malts/esters but not with others.

For extract, you can use straight RO water with no additions.

 

[progmac]

For extract, you can use straight RO water with no additions.

very good suggestion for OP and any extract brewer.

 

[DrunkleJon]

So it sours with bottle carbing? Sounds to me like it may be something with the bottling bucket, hose, bottle filler, and or bottles. no hint of this sour flavor before it is bottled?

 

[LaurieGator]

Another thing I have learned, if you use oxyclean with hard water, it seems very hard to get it to rinse well. I have had no problems with hard water rinsing since switching to the PBW cleaner.

 

[GrogNerd]

something I don't think has been discussed:

if you are doing all grain, are you grinding your malts in the same area as you're fermenting and/or bottling?

 

[Sheridan197]

Wanted to give a quick update: Bought a turkey fryer, replaced the bottling spigot, tubing, autosiphon and wand. Started using PBW for cleaning and using all equipment fresh from the sanitizer. Sneaked a taste of Java Stout last night and it is FABULOUS!!!!! Not even a hint of sour taste. Thanks so much, all of you for your help. I am renewed, re-energized and ready to brew again!

 

[Kozzer]

Totally OT, but I just drove through Jefferson on my way over the Boreas Pass to Breck. I'm totally jealous of where you live.

Also, being a newbie, I'm finding this discussion very informational.

 

[JohnSand]

Wanted to give a quick update: Bought a turkey fryer, replaced the bottling spigot, tubing, autosiphon and wand. Started using PBW for cleaning and using all equipment fresh from the sanitizer. Sneaked a taste of Java Stout last night and it is FABULOUS!!!!! Not even a hint of sour taste. Thanks so much, all of you for your help. I am renewed, re-energized and ready to brew again!

happy for your success!

 

[Sheridan197]

It is beautiful up here, Kozzer. Winters can be a challenge, but worth it. Next time you're through, stop at the Pony Espresso/Post Office in Jefferson. I'm the Postmistress. I'll buy you a cuppa!