I recently posted a little about my 2nd batch ever. Here is the link: (Golden/Amber Bitter Ale.).
After 5 days carbonating I had to try 1. It was good. It was not too bitter and had nice color and clarity. There may have been a slight off flavor, but it was subtle and I didn’t think much of it. I was thinking 2 for 2. The next night I had a tall Imperial IPA and felt like another beer so I popped another of my Golden Ale homebrew in the freezer. It was good again, but I sis try to identify the off flavor. Nothing to worry too much about I thought. Then, I woke up with a weird headache. I’m no stranger to hangovers. With my normal Mexican Lagers they start at 8-9 beers and increase to death by 12. I only drank the 2 beers. Granted the 9% Imp IPA is like 3 12 ozers, but my beer is supposed to be around 4.2 %. The headache feeling had a flavor and in retrospect (it has been 72 hours), I’m thinking solvent-like and fusel alcohols. I still have a whole case carbonating and I am going to wait until the 2 weeks is done to try another. If it gives me a headache I will pour them out. I should note that I am a rookie and have no temperature control. I live on Maui, in the tropics of course, but am at around 1600 ft elevation. It has been cold and cool lately. The night during fermentation was probably 58-68F and the days 68-78F. With only rarely being 78 and only for a couple hours a couple days. It has been more rainy and overcast. It was the US-05 Safale. To finish off this story I am going to buy a small fridge and Johnston thermostat bc f that I need temp control. If anything else, I am learning to distinguish off flavors and more valuable knowledge. For instance, I didn’t realize the higher temp of the fermentation needs to be taken into account. Input welcome.
After 5 days carbonating I had to try 1. It was good. It was not too bitter and had nice color and clarity. There may have been a slight off flavor, but it was subtle and I didn’t think much of it. I was thinking 2 for 2. The next night I had a tall Imperial IPA and felt like another beer so I popped another of my Golden Ale homebrew in the freezer. It was good again, but I sis try to identify the off flavor. Nothing to worry too much about I thought. Then, I woke up with a weird headache. I’m no stranger to hangovers. With my normal Mexican Lagers they start at 8-9 beers and increase to death by 12. I only drank the 2 beers. Granted the 9% Imp IPA is like 3 12 ozers, but my beer is supposed to be around 4.2 %. The headache feeling had a flavor and in retrospect (it has been 72 hours), I’m thinking solvent-like and fusel alcohols. I still have a whole case carbonating and I am going to wait until the 2 weeks is done to try another. If it gives me a headache I will pour them out. I should note that I am a rookie and have no temperature control. I live on Maui, in the tropics of course, but am at around 1600 ft elevation. It has been cold and cool lately. The night during fermentation was probably 58-68F and the days 68-78F. With only rarely being 78 and only for a couple hours a couple days. It has been more rainy and overcast. It was the US-05 Safale. To finish off this story I am going to buy a small fridge and Johnston thermostat bc f that I need temp control. If anything else, I am learning to distinguish off flavors and more valuable knowledge. For instance, I didn’t realize the higher temp of the fermentation needs to be taken into account. Input welcome.