Cologne Malt in a Helles

[burtom]

Hi I used about 8% Cologne malt in a Helles I brewed 2 weeks ago. I was trying to add some of the raw grain flavor to the beer. Anyway tried a sample today and am getting a crap flavor I have never gotten in a beer before. By crap I mean a close to poop aroma and flavor. It’s not real strong but there.

This was the first time using that malt, has anyone else had a similar experience? If so will it age out?

Thanks
Tom

 

[thehaze]

Cologne Malt is a lager-style malt, so spring 2-row. At 8%, it will not have a big enough impact on aroma and flavour. I would look somewhere else for the off-flavour you mention.

Also, I don't know how a " close to poop aroma and flavour " taste/smell like. Can you describe it further? Are you maybe talking about rotten eggs/sulfur ( that can ressemble farts ) aroma and flavour?

 

[burtom]

No more like the smell driving by a Wisconsin dairy farm, which this week wouldn’t smell at all. But not strong just enough to make you go ew.

 

[jfolks]

Yeah, my guess is sulfur

 

[Vale71]

If it's really a fecal smell/taste than a Megasphaera infection is a distinct possibility. If this is the case then the smell/taste will get worse and worse with time. The good news is although it's been classified as a Clostridium it is safe to drink and won't kill you but it might make you throw up.

 

[burtom]

If it's really a fecal smell/taste than a Megasphaera infection is a distinct possibility. If this is the case then the smell/taste will get worse and worse with time. The good news is although it's been classified as a Clostridium it is safe to drink and won't kill you but it might make you throw up.

Interesting, this would be my first ever obvious or even noticeable infection. I am cold crashing and carbonating it now. I will see how it tastes in a week.

 

[burtom]

No sulphuric at all, although it threw sulfur during fermentation.

 

[burtom]

Okay. One week later and that aroma/flavor has cleared to the point that it is barely noticeable. If I wasn’t looking for it I would no longer call it fecal. In fact it is now drinkable which is a ridiculous amount of improvement. Give it another week and try again.