Can you detect off-tastes before bottling?

[paulymd]

New brewer that has benefited immensely from this place!

My first brew, BB Imperial Blonde Kit, has been in my primary for about two weeks. Planning to give it another week, but am wondering if you can sample it for off tastes before bottling and bottle conditioning? I'm mainly concerned about a metallic taste. When I was cleaning my kettle after boiling there was a silver black residue I noticed on the paper towels when wiping it dry. SS kettle cleaned with oxyclean if that helps at all.

Main,y

 

[unionrdr]

I'd expect that residue from aluminum,but not stainless steel. Could be because of the oxyclean reacting with the metal. I use PBW & a Dobie brand scrubber on mine & rinse well before drying & storage.

 

[Wayneh]

Yes, You will be able to taste any off flavors that might happen from what you wiped off the pot. I wouldn't use it again. Also probably bad for the body. What was on the cloth from wiping out pot could be oils from a cheap metal. Peace

 

[dryboroughbrewing]

Did you clean the kettle and all fittings prior to using it the first time? Often times kettles come with a fair bit of oil on them from the machining process.

 

[unionrdr]

Come to think of it,folks on here told me to do that with mine when I first got it. forgot about that one. Various oils & seperating compounds are used in production.

 

[paulymd]

I did clean it, however probably not as thoroughly as I should have. Hoping it's just some machining oils since it's a SS pot (tried the scratch test).

If the beer tastes fine would you still bottle it? Or just take the lesson learned and throw it out?

 

[BigFloyd]

I'd go ahead and "season" that pot just to be sure. Fill it with water, bring it to a boil, boil for 45 minutes. Done.

Don't use any abrasive cleaners or scrubbers on it. Soak with Oxy/PBW overnight and rinse well.