Flavors off - Fast active fermentation and high fermentation temp

[Sirhc]

My last two batches had off flavors (dry and sour flavors). Both had noticeable fermentation within 1 hour of pitching and both fermented a higher ambient temps than recommended (about +5 degrees F plus not stable temp).

Which is more likely the cause of the problem? And what are the normal problems resulting from either of these issues?

Many thanks.

 

[number40fan]

Everyone will tell you that temp control is the difference between good beer and not so good beer.

 

[DJDBrew]

Everyone will tell you that temp control is the difference between good beer and not so good beer.

Yep. What he said. The higher temps is likely what did it and it also sounds like you pitched too warm as well.

Temperature changes can have a dramatic effect on the end result of the beer. The single best improvement you can make is some sort of temp control. As you may have read before, a swamp cooler is an easy and relatively cost effective way of doing this. Simply get a container large enough to hold your fementation vessel, and fill it with water. Then add frozen water bottles to the water to lower the temp to the desired range. If you use a carboy, you can also put an old t-shirt over it and turn on a fan to help cool it down as well.

 

[PrinceOfThePoint]

Yup! Good beer IS temperature!

Some may think +5 above the recommended is just whatever, but no no no. The very hottest ambient temp I will allow is 5 degrees BELOW the LOWER end of the recommended range, and usually even colder. :rockin:

 

[Bobcatbrewing42]

Yep: If you are starting fermenting in one hour after pitching that doesn't sound like a good outcome. Maybe banana tasting. A wet towel wrapped around a carboy with a fan on it can cool it ten degrees or more. I've had to do that a couple of times when we had a heat wave at ferment time. Three days of that and the ferment is most likely done.
The yeasts that I use, like Safale 05, Safale 04, Nottingham and Wyeast seem to yield the best taste in the lower third of their recommended temp range.

 

[unionrdr]

Just another thought here. I've been saving those gel packs they freeze to keep my shipped liquid yeasts cool in the freezer. I went to home depot or lowe's & got these straps with velcro to hold them against the fermenter in warm weather. Covered with a tee shirt should help keep them cool. Going to try it when the weather warms again...