How do you know if the beer is "bad"

[Randy_of_Neuron]

I have only made a few batches of beer so I don't know much yet. This last one was an Oatmeal Stout. I put it in the primary for 1 week, secondary for 2 weeks, then bottle conditioned it for 3.5 going on 4 weeks. It is tasting a little better, but not much. It has a weird hard to describe taste like someone added dish water or something.

The first stout that I didn't din't taste like that at all. I used White Labs yeast, but it didn't bubble no where near as much as it usually does. I know that is not always an indication..but.

Anyhow. Do I need to condition it longer. How long do I keep it in the bottle before putting it in the fridge. And finally, how do I know if it is just a bad batch of beer? What could have caused it to be bad?

As always, thank you for your infinite wisdom.

 

[buffalobrewer]

could you give us your recipe and hydrometer readings? that will help track it down.

 

[ReverseApacheMaster]

Can you also tell us your cleaning process and products used?

 

[Richabt]

Right off the bat, it sounds like you didn't give it enough time in the primary. But there may be more to your situation. The more we know the better.

 

[Nurmey]

I find that stouts are much better after couple months of aging. Time may improve that beer quite a bit. Leave them out of the fridge to continue conditioning.

 

[Grinder12000]

Sometimes a Stout is good from teh get go and sometimes it's a LITTLE skanky and need more timing.

My advice is - if it taste good drink it, if it taste . .weird but does not make you gag - store it if it makes you gag and tastes like drano - probably not going to get a LOT better.

 

[Randy_of_Neuron]

Okay, Here is the info.

Ingredients for this kit from MidWest Brewing :
6 pounds of Dark malt extract, Specialty grains (Flaked oats, Chocolate malt, Roasted Barley Malt) 1 ounce of hops,
I used White Labs yeas

Cleaning process - First I wash and rinse everything but without soap or any chemicals. Then I make a fresh batch of EZ-Clean (oxygen cleaner I think) and clean everything with that and a clean wash rag soaked in that. Now I did save the EZ clean that was left to clean the bottling bucket 3 weeks later when I bottled. Could that do anything.

Unfortunately this is the first and only time I forgot to get a hydro reading. Damn it.

As far as the taste. It is completely drinkable, just has a bittery / slightly odd after taste. It has gotten better over time, but I didn't know how long I would have to wait.

 

[BioBeing]

Is EZ-clean a sanitizer? Oxygen cleaners, like oxiclean, do not sanitize.

 

[Randy_of_Neuron]

Okay, I looked at the EZ Clean, and it states EZ - Clean cleaner.....I can't find anything about sanitizer.....so I am assuming a cleaner. However the DVD, that I have from Midwest Brewing showing how to brew treat it like it is a sanitizer. For example they just take new bottle caps and dip it in the stuff and they are done. So.....I don't know. They have a 800 number I will call and ask.

 

[TipsyDragon]

my guess is you need to rinse your bottles and glassware better. soapy residue will come off in beer. i would let the bottles sit for as long as you can stand it. then chill a minimum of 24 hours before drinking.