Octang
Well-Known Member
OK, so tonight I was able to bottle my first batch of beer. I had a lot of fun doing it too! But I have a few concerns hopefully you guys can help me with.
First issue: How important is the storage temperature of your bottled beers (before you can drink them)? The closet that I store them in can easily get 75-80 degrees if I don't pay attention. Should I take extra steps to keep the bottles cooler while they get carbonated? Or is temperature not as important as it was during fermentation.
Next issue: On this first batch of beer that I ever attempted, I made a few mistakes. The initial 36-48 hours of fermentation was at much higher temps than what it should have been (the room temp was 75-80 degrees) and the intense fermentation activity died down by the end of the second day (shortly after I made a water bath for the fermenter). After that I kept the temperature in a proper range.
On sunday I went to take my first hydrometer test and I used a turkey baster to draw a sample and I accidentally dropped it in the wort. (it was sanitized, and I think I was able to pull it out without a problem). I also accidentally spilled some water that was sitting on the fermenter lid into the wort (probably not good at all). After taking my reading, I sampled the beer and everything tasted fine (though flat obviously).
Though today when I went to bottle, all of a sudden my beer tastes like apple juice almost. When I took my previous sample, I wasn't able to drink more than a few sips of the flat beer because I didn't enjoy the taste at all, however this apple flavored beer, even though it was flat, I was able to drink my entire testing sample. However, now I am concerned that my beer changed flavors so quickly. Why did my beer change flavors, and will the flavor get worse?
Summarize:
1. How important is the storage temperature of your bottled beers (before you can drink them)?
2. Why did my beer go from tasting like normal beer, to having a distinct apple flavor in two days?
3. I actually liked how the apple flavor beer tasted, but should I be concerned with the flavor further deteriorating?
Thanks guys. No matter what happens with this batch, I have sure learned a lot and I can't wait to get started on my next batch of beer!
First issue: How important is the storage temperature of your bottled beers (before you can drink them)? The closet that I store them in can easily get 75-80 degrees if I don't pay attention. Should I take extra steps to keep the bottles cooler while they get carbonated? Or is temperature not as important as it was during fermentation.
Next issue: On this first batch of beer that I ever attempted, I made a few mistakes. The initial 36-48 hours of fermentation was at much higher temps than what it should have been (the room temp was 75-80 degrees) and the intense fermentation activity died down by the end of the second day (shortly after I made a water bath for the fermenter). After that I kept the temperature in a proper range.
On sunday I went to take my first hydrometer test and I used a turkey baster to draw a sample and I accidentally dropped it in the wort. (it was sanitized, and I think I was able to pull it out without a problem). I also accidentally spilled some water that was sitting on the fermenter lid into the wort (probably not good at all). After taking my reading, I sampled the beer and everything tasted fine (though flat obviously).
Though today when I went to bottle, all of a sudden my beer tastes like apple juice almost. When I took my previous sample, I wasn't able to drink more than a few sips of the flat beer because I didn't enjoy the taste at all, however this apple flavored beer, even though it was flat, I was able to drink my entire testing sample. However, now I am concerned that my beer changed flavors so quickly. Why did my beer change flavors, and will the flavor get worse?
Summarize:
1. How important is the storage temperature of your bottled beers (before you can drink them)?
2. Why did my beer go from tasting like normal beer, to having a distinct apple flavor in two days?
3. I actually liked how the apple flavor beer tasted, but should I be concerned with the flavor further deteriorating?
Thanks guys. No matter what happens with this batch, I have sure learned a lot and I can't wait to get started on my next batch of beer!