Can I sour this beer?

[reuliss]

Folks, I have a 6% abv amber with 35 IBUs. Brewed to be clean but it has some nasty chlorophenols. Before I just dump it, I'm wondering if I can sour this bad boy. Two questions:

1. Would Brett break down the chlorophenols?

2. Can I get sourness at 35 IBUs in a finished beer?


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[hirschb]

Folks, I have a 6% abv amber with 35 IBUs. Brewed to be clean but it has some nasty chlorophenols. Before I just dump it, I'm wondering if I can sour this bad boy. Two questions:

1. Would Brett break down the chlorophenols?

2. Can I get sourness at 35 IBUs in a finished beer?


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Sour usually comes from Lacto and Pedio - both of which will be inhibited by moderate-high IBU's, and neither of which are likely to clean up phenols. According to previous posts, brett may/may not break down chlorophenols (although it breaks down other phenols). If you have some brett beers on hand, I'd try dumping some dregs in the beer and seeing what happens.

 

[davejanssen]

If you have space, time, and some brett around you could try it out. But generally brett enhances phenolic character rather than diminishes it. And there are enough ways for soured beer to go wrong/come out not tasting that great when done well that I wouldn't bother trying to sour/brett a bad batch.

 

[Coff]

Ah, the old "this beer sucks let's add bugs to fix it" plan. Bad base beer makes bad funky beer imo. I mean you can try it but I wouldn't get my hopes up.

 

[dantheman13]

Ah, the old "this beer sucks let's add bugs to fix it" plan. Bad base beer makes bad funky beer imo. I mean you can try it but I wouldn't get my hopes up.

Yeah, I've seen some weird stuff with Brett. I think I've gotten lucky though with some of it. When friends of mine have tried to use Brett to clean up an overly phenolic Sacch fermentation, it doesn't seem to help (I've never tried to fix a bad Sacch fermentation myself, but have had Brett "fix" other issues).

It comes down to the time investment and the low odds of success. I would say to try it for the learning experience. After that, you'll probably do what many others do and dump bad beers and start over with a good fermentation that can be "funked up" with some Brett and get you a really nice beer.

Then again... I've experienced some really weird **** with Brettanomyces!

 

[MileHighBrewer]

If you are going to dump it anyways, no reason not to try it. What brett were you planning to try?

You could always just go buy some funky heers and toss in the dregs, at least that way you got to drink the beer too. If anything has a shot at souring up beer that hoppy, cascade or jolly pumpkin dregs would be my plan.

 

[reuliss]

Thanks for the advice, everyone. Without confidence that the brett would break down those phenols, I'm just going to feed my sink's drain. Not the first time, and won't be the last

 

[sweetcell]

Sour usually comes from Lacto and Pedio - both of which will be inhibited by moderate-high IBU's

is pedio inhibited by high IBUs? i was under the impression it could tolerate them.

for lacto, it comes down to strain. Certain brevis strains can handle higher IBUs.

 

[hirschb]

is pedio inhibited by high IBUs? i was under the impression it could tolerate them.

for lacto, it comes down to strain. Certain brevis strains can handle higher IBUs.

That's a good point. I don't know if Pedio is inhibited by high IBU's. I'm assuming they have an effect, but I don't know. Yeah, I know brevis is pretty durable under higher IBU's (from personal experience as well), but I was speaking in generalities.

 

[reuliss]

That's a good point. I don't know if Pedio is inhibited by high IBU's. I'm assuming they have an effect, but I don't know. Yeah, I know brevis is pretty durable under higher IBU's (from personal experience as well), but I was speaking in generalities.

Yes, this was my thought as well. I know lacto is temperamental, but was hoping a pedio/Brett blend might make this something tasty.


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[dcp27]

brett would have zero issues. pedio can handle IBUs/ABV too, it just might slow it down. as noted, JP dregs can definitely take it on as well. in any case, i dont think they're gunna fix chlorophenols. are you sure thats what the issue is?