First batch is questionable at best

[gabeinAK]

I tried my first batch mostly from information in Charlie Papazian's book. I tried the "Palace Bitter" but had to change some of the ingredients because of limited selection available at the only LHBS so instead of the DME I used LME and instead of the English Goldings and Fuggles I used US varieties. For yeast I used the US-04 ( I just threw it in, didn't hydrate it first).

I thought I cleaned and sanitized everything like you are supposed to. I didn't have a hydrometer the day I brewed so didn't get an OG but figured it wasn't the end of the world. It fermented well for about 3 days with a big tube into sanitized water and then I put on an air lock and it bubbled for about 10 days. Temps in the room were 60-65 degrees.

I finally got a hydrometer but it must be broken because it sank right to the bottom (with H2O as well) when I tried to get a FG. I tried the beer after 2 weeks and it tasted really dry and bitter and kind of fruity. So I left it in the primary for 3 weeks and then bottled and learned a lot about how NOT to bottle. I think it aerated it a lot.

Now it's been in the bottle a week and I thought I would try one even though I new it wasn't ready and it tasted terrible. It smelled more like hard alcohol than beer and I could barely drink it (only drank a few swallows before throwing it out).

So, any ideas what I did wrong? I'll give it another 1-2 weeks but I am doubtful it will be drinkable. Thanks.

 

[amandabab]

a week in the bottle is too short.
if the hydrometer sank you probably have a heavy liquids hydrometer.

 

[BobC]

Well it is called a Palace Bitter and luckily that will mellow out with time, it might take months rather than weeks. As far as the dryness, that I'm afraid your stuck with. Perhaps if you post the recipe we can see why you got so much fermentability out of the LME.

 

[BuddyWeiser]

Takes 3 weeks for decent carbonation for me, and I keep room temp at 68 deg. After a couple more weeks, maybe it will work for chasing shots of whiskey!

Seriously tho, following the whiskey with it might bring it back into beer land. (as far as your tastebuds are concerned.)

 

[gabeinAK]

Maybe part of my problem was that I was drinking Grolsch before I tried it! So the recipe was:
5 lbs. light LME
12 oz. crystal malt (steeped)
1/2 oz. each of Fuggles and 3/4 oz. Goldings (boiling)
1/4 oz. Fuggles and 3/4 oz. Goldings (Flavor)
1/2 oz. Goldings for aroma.

Thanks a ton for the replies. I'm not discouraged because I usually F things up the first time and then just keep going.

 

[gabeinAK]

And I noticed the hydrometer said "high alc." on the box. Is this not the right kind? I was assuming it was broken.

 

[BuddyWeiser]

Did you make 5 gallons? If so, then 5 lbs LME should make for a lowish abv. From what I've read, if you are converting DME to LME, then you need to increase the weight (due to water in the LME). The math I've seen is 5 lbs DME should = approx 5.5 lbs LME.

 

[BuddyWeiser]

I personally don't like hops too much. I usually use only 1 oz total. (combined bittering, flavor, and aroma) So for me, too much hops can make it nasty. I have read that if you use plenty of hops, then it helps to use plenty of malt flavor to help balance it. The crystal malt you used should be good for that (more so if it's a higher number/darker crystal like L60 or more). If it is the hops that make it taste bad/smell bad to you, and not because of too much alcohol, then you should be in luck because as BobC was saying, time should mellow the hops.

 

[Fid]

Any idea what yeast strain you used?

Have you been conditioning your bottles at room temperature or in the fridge?

What has the temp been for your Hydrometer readings (most are calibrated for readings at 60 degrees Fahrenheit... although adjustments can be made to compensate for sample temperatures)?

Finally, it could simply be a case of tasting "green" beer. I'd say give it a few more weeks before trying another. If you can't wait.... Take notes on what you tasted with this bottle, in a week try another and take notes, and so on and so on until the beer tastes to your liking. Taking tasting notes over the span of a few weeks should help you appreciate what time can do for beer.

 

[BobC]

BuddyWeiser hit the problem right on the head. Your LHBS didn't adjust the amount of malt you needed from DME to LME. You should have used about 6.5 pounds of LME. There just wasn't enough malt to balance the hops. I would wait another month and do as Fid suggested and take notes on taste.

 

[gabeinAK]

Thanks a lot for the replies and help! The other issue with the LME (in addition to not enough) was that I have no idea how old it was. The LHBS here is just a section of a gas station and no one who works there knows anything about it. So, for my next batch I already ordered from a real shop in Anchorage. Also, BuddyWeiser I think you may be right about the hops. Part of the problem may be that it is just really unbalanced. I also didn't have a scale so was estimating the amount of hops I was putting in. I'm bottle conditioning at about 65 degrees, I would like 70 but that is not easy this time of year.

So great, I'l just give it some more time and for the next batch balance things out more. I got DME this time and the hops and yeast should be fresh as well. I'm trying a blonde ale. Thanks!

 

[amandabab]

And I noticed the hydrometer said "high alc." on the box. Is this not the right kind? I was assuming it was broken.

yes.
You need a hydrometer that reads specific gravity in the .9-1.1 range
Easiest is to look for one labled for beer and winemaking.

 

[klnosaj]

I also didn't have a scale so was estimating the amount of hops I was putting in.

You simply cannot do this and expect to have good beer.