Apfelwein????????

[SCARYLARRY]

My Apfelwein is now been fermenting for a month. Took a sample and it smells like apples but has a water, vinegar taste with some alcohol. My recipe was 15 cans of apple juice concentrate(forget the additive it had supposed to be the same as vitamin C and no preservatives, 100% juice.), water and 2lb's of dextrose. Will this mellow out? Did I screw up some where? Should I bottle and hope for the best?

 

[Eves]

I've never used the cans of apple juice concentrate so I can't really help you with your specific batch. However, I'd suggest checking the gravity. After a month it should be down around/below 1.000 I think.

 

[SCARYLARRY]

How is the gravity going to change the taste? I'm sure it is low and before I bottle I will make sure it's done. Trying to figure out the weird taste and is there something I could do to help it before it goes into bottles.

 

[Eves]

If the gravity is low and near where expected for a FG then that would tell you fermentation is done. if it isn't then that alone might explain the off flavor. In such a case you might need to repitch or something.

 

[bierhaus15]

My first batch of apfelwein had a slight vinegar taste a few weeks in...and about a month later I had 3 gallons of apple vinegar. While that flavor could just be from ongoing fermentation, once something begins to taste like vinegar, its not a good sign.

 

[Rhymenoceros]

what causes the vinegar taste?

 

[gaylord500]

I think it's... Yeast makes apple juice into wine. Bacteria makes apple juice into vinegar.

 

[fratermus]

what causes the vinegar taste?

Acetobacter.

 

[SCARYLARRY]

Should I just go ahead and dump or??? Could a put a gallon in a vinegar bottle and use it to cook with? Give me some options please.

 

[Denny's Evil Concoctions]

Looks like you have apple vinegar. If it's acetobactor the vinegar taste will definitely get stronger. Are you sure you taste vinegar?

 

[SCARYLARRY]

Pretty sure I am. Could be wrong. I'll check it out again when I get back in town and report back. Just hate to dump the batch.

 

[JesseRC]

On some beer or apfelwein batches, I guess the yeast I used often produces a vinegar smell during the fermentation. I've never tasted it when it smelled that way. After its done fermenting the smell goes away and I dont taste any vinegar. I wonder if the smell and greeness is giving you the taste perception of vinegar. Not much to do but wait it out.

 

[Boerderij_Kabouter]

You AW is still fermenting. DO NOT DUMP IT. It sounds like you are fairly new to fermenting beverages and may not a have a handle on the weird things fermentation can do to taste.

When I ferment AW it usually takes about 1.5-2 months to ferment dry and clear. Wait until it drops fully clear, then wait another 2 weeks, then sample and bottle. I don't think AW is worth drinking until it is at least 7 months old. Some don't agree, but many do.

Patients young padiwan.

 

[Denny's Evil Concoctions]

Like I said if it's aceobactor it will get noticibly worse over time, so give it time....