beer has little taste

[benharper13]

I've bottle two batches so far and they are both ok beers but lack a lot of flavor I don't get real off flavors just ok beers. I don't expect my first two to be my best two but is there anything I might be doing wrong I am following kits so it should be a lack of flavor from a mess up on recipe

 

[Germelli1]

Is there a question in the post?

We would need more information to see if there is a consistant cause to the issues!

 

[benharper13]

The question is that my beer doesn't have a lot of flavor, is there something in the brewing process that would cause this? I know I steeped my grains at the right temp for the right time, I added the malt and everything the way it said in the kit. Left in the primary for 3-4 weeks and now bottled for 3-4 weeks so is it going to gain more flavor with time in the bottle or does that just clear up off flavors?

 

[Germelli1]

The question is that my beer doesn't have a lot of flavor, is there something in the brewing process that would cause this? I know I steeped my grains at the right temp for the right time, I added the malt and everything the way it said in the kit. Left in the primary for 3-4 weeks and now bottled for 3-4 weeks so is it going to gain more flavor with time in the bottle or does that just clear up off flavors?

Can you post your recipes so we can review them. Without knowing any information my gut instinct is either too little extract, not enough flavor achieved from steeping or using too attenuative yeast leaving your beers with little residual body

 

[benharper13]

I will grab them when I get home I'm at work, but I followed a two brewers best recipes for an amber ale and a brown ale so i would think they had the ingredients right

 

[Germelli1]

I agree, sometimes if the kits are old they don't age well. I can't remember if my first kits were true brew or brewers best but they both made tastey beer (India Blonde Ale kit and Kolsch kits)

 

[Yooper]

Some of the kits I've had from Brewer's Best have been really good, some just ok. Age of the kit might really be a factor.

The other thing to keep in mind is that those BB kits are designed to be a middle-of-the-road representation of their styles. Some styles are sort of bland, to be honest. I mean, a cream ale isn't going to have much flavor. If you made an IPA, though, or a stout, I'd expect some flavor!

I'd suggest trying a freshly made kit from nothernbrewer.com, or austinhomebrew.com. AHS especially- they have literally hundreds of great extract/steeping grain kits. I've made many of them myself over the years, and would recommend them to anybody.

 

[rweird]

the first brew i made was a brewers best american amber. i liked it. good flavor.

 

[benharper13]

Thanks Yooper, that makes sense especially since they were recommended for me just starting out they probably are just middle of the road but, I have an apricot wheat bottled for a week, a IPA in the Primary for almost a month, a 10-10-10 red ale in the primary for almost a month, and a apfelwein for a week. All from recipes I found on here or one from my LHBS fresh cracked grains so I'm more excited for those when they are ready.

 

[benharper13]

Its not that its bad it just could use a little more flavor

 

[Justibone]

Ways to get more flavor:

1) more malt
2) less water
3) freeze concentration (basically, that's less water)
4) add oats, torrified wheat, or glycerin for "mouthfeel"

You could also mash at a lower temp, closer to 140, IIRC... either high (150) or low (140) -- one is good for flavor and one is good for clear beers, if I remember correctly. I can't remember which is which, honestly.

 

[Challenger440]

How much water are you adding after the boil?

 

[benharper13]

I have a five gallon pot so I usually have to add a gallon or two when all is said and done

 

[Germelli1]

I just thought of something...Are you hitting your gravities? Or are you topping off to volume?

I would use your hydrometer to figure out how much top off water to add....this ensure you are hitting the target gravities---thus getting the intended results from the kit!

 

[benharper13]

I have been topping off to volume. I may sound dumb, but how to I use the Hydrometer to figure it out? I've been filling it to 5 gallons and then taking a hydrometer reading. I assume I just take a reading without adding water and then slowly adding water and checking readings tell I'm where I need to be?

 

[Germelli1]

Thats not a dumb question at all! The hydrometer will help you immensely once you learn to use it properly.

One thing to consider first is that you should check the gallon markings on your fermenter for accuracy (if that is what you are using to measure 5 gallons.

Its pretty easy to figure out your top off volume using your hydrometer: Add about a half of your top off water to help cool the hot wort if you want, but ake sure to mix it with the wort very well.


Then take a hydrometer reading (the hot wort has to be cooled somewhat in order to accurately use temperature corrections for gravity readings).
If your corrected Specific Gravity reading is higher than the target original gravity, add more water and mix the water and wort very well. Repeat this process until you lower your gravity to the target!

This could be considered overly cautious for making kits, but it ensures your end product is what the kit is designed to produce!

Here is a temperature correction calculator that keeps you from having to repeat calculations over and over again: http://hbd.org/cgi-bin/recipator/recipator/hydrometer.html

 

[jfr1111]

I like a lot of beers that some would call flavourless, stuff like middle of the road pale ales and lagers, session beers that top at 4%, etc. Maybe you just like big strong brews. If you're not brewing what you like to see in commercial beers, wether high ABV, maltyness or hop bombs, don't be surprised it is "flavourless" afterwards. It's akin to cooking, not everyone likes their chili the same way and I'd bet donut to dollar that many would find my chili flavourless since I don't care for heat or big spices, but instead go for better cuts of beef or venison that have a subtle flavour of their own.