First batch on new system has metallic flavor...

[benbradford]

Is it possible that after building my new electric keggle system, using kegs and cutting them apart and installing fittings the same day as the brew, that I contributed some kind of metal flavor to my beer?

I cleaned as good as i could with a hose, and in the sink, and then ran boiling starsan through the system before use.

This flavor is less noticable right off the tap, but if I put some in a growler and drink later, it is more noticable.

I have detected faint hints of this in my previous beer, but not this bad.

I thought it might have been from chlorine or chloramines in tap water, and started to treat with campden tabs.

Can pH contribute to these flavors?

I just bought some one-step, and am planning on using this to clean again before brewing next.

 

[jfkriege]

StarSan is not a cleaner. I would run some oxyclean or PBW through the system followed by a good rinse before you use it again.

I have an electric system and have not noticed any sort of metallic flavors.

 

[Catt22]

StarSan is not a cleaner. I would run some oxyclean or PBW through the system followed by a good rinse before you use it again.

+1 on the cleaners. I would guess that the metallic taste is more likely a problem with your water than with your equipment. Are you filtering your water? Carbon water filtration may fix the problem. I hope you are not using a garden hose anywhere in your water supply. I would suggest you taste your water and see if you can discern any off flavors. If it tastes OK when you drink it, then it should be OK to brew with. A good cleaning and thorough rinse of all your equipment should eliminate any potential problems there. That's all I can think of. Brew up another batch and see what happens. I'm not sure what the result might be if you expose copper parts to boiling StarSan. That might not be a good thing to do. I can't imagine it reacting with SS, but with copper or brass it might.

 

[wyzazz]

Metallic or blood tastes are usually from Iron in the water. Did you have rust on your heating element? Do you have really hard water?

 

[bobbytuck]

Morebeer sells a great charcoal filter (I've seen it at hardware stores, too) that you can quickly attach to your hose on brew day (using a white RV hose). The charcoal inserts are removable. I've started using this in combination with campden tablets and my beer flavor has noticeably improved.

 

[Hoppocrates]

Paradoxically, I used to get a very strong metallic flavor from using distilled water. I suspect the lack of minerals stressed the yeast and caused the metallic off flavor. As soon as I started building my water, no more metallic taste...