My first batch sucks....

[BlueSunshine]

I made John Palmer's Cincinatti Pale Ale (extract) as my first home brew batch. I opened a bottle tonight after carbing it for three weeks and.... it sucks. It tastes like bitter carbonated water but yet there's barely any hints of hops. Here's what's giving me the funky flavors I think:

- Pitched the yeast at a high temp in the starter
- Didn't cool down the wort enough when I pitched the yeast in the carboy

After reading information here, I'm going to let it sit in the bottles for a few months then give it another whirl. Although it's beautiful in appearance (a very nice amber color) I could barely finish a glass and neither could my girlfriend. I'd be embarrassed to share this with friends at the moment honestly.

On the bright side, my sanitation was apparently up to par!

 

[Austinhomebrew]

IMHO it is not a very good recipe, especially for a beginner.

Name 3 of your favorite commercial beers.

Forrest

 

[jackson_d]

I made John Palmer's Cincinatti Pale Ale (extract) as my first home brew batch. I opened a bottle tonight after carbing it for three weeks and.... it sucks. It tastes like bitter carbonated water but yet there's barely any hints of hops.

Hang in there dude. My first batch sucked too! Make it a learning experience...

 

[Austinhomebrew]

Its not your fault if the recipe isn't very good. I would recommend making kits until you get your barings. That way you will know a good recipe when you see it. Stay away from canned kits or made way in advance kits.

Forrest

 

[jackson_d]

Hey cool! My first AG batch was AHS Liberty Ale. Very tasty and spot on!

...besides my 57% efficiency.

But Hey! It was my first AG!

 

[BlueSunshine]

IMHO it is not a very good recipe, especially for a beginner.

Name 3 of your favorite commercial beers.

Forrest

That's a tough one.

The three that I'm really digging at the moment are: Corsendonk Christmas Ale, Anderson Valley Winter Solstice, and Mad Elf. My top 3 changes all the time and right now I'm digging some winter warmers.

 

[BlueSunshine]

Hang in there dude. My first batch sucked too! Make it a learning experience...

Oh yeah, it definitely was a learning experience! I brewed a partial mash last weekend for a Chocolate Coffee Stout and things went much smoother for the most part. Although I think I lost track of time and boiled for 45 minutes instead of an hour.

None the less it was more of a "ok, lets try to get do this right" experience rather than a "what the hell am I doing!?!?" experience like my first batch.

 

[Austinhomebrew]

Do you have any favorites that do not take 4-6 months of aging to taste right? Something other than a winter warmer?

 

[flashover600]

Here's what's giving me the funky flavors I think:

- Pitched the yeast at a high temp in the starter
- Didn't cool down the wort enough when I pitched the yeast in the carboy

I usually pitch the yeast at 65*-70*........haven't had any problems....

Also, do you ferment in a carboy? Make sure it's covered or in a dark environment if you do otherwise you'll skunk the beer!!!

 

[Austinhomebrew]

The recipe just sucked. Lets face the cold hard facts.

Forrest

 

[Baldy_Beer_Brewery]

+1 on brewing kits until you get your crap together. Places that sell these kits usually have well put together and tried and true recipes. The instructions can be lacking at times, but for the most part these places wouldn't be selling these kits if they didn't make good beer.

 

[BlueSunshine]

Do you have any favorites that do not take 4-6 months of aging to taste right? Something other than a winter warmer?

Yeah, for my "everyday" kind of beers, I like Hoegaarden, Sierra Nevada Pale Ale, and Paulaner.

My next beer I hope to brew is this one:

https://www.homebrewtalk.com/f69/volition-ipa-87033/

:rockin:

 

[jackson_d]

Yeah, for my "everyday" kind of beers, I like Hoegaarden, Sierra Nevada Pale Ale, and Paulaner.

Sierra Nevada Pale Ale Clone
American Pale Ale


Type: All Grain
Date: 9/19/2009
Batch Size: 4.75 gal
Brewer: Jackson
Boil Size: 5.75 gal Asst Brewer: Jason and Susan
Boil Time: 60 min Equipment: My Equipment
Taste Rating(out of 50): 35.0 Brewhouse Efficiency: 84.00
Taste Notes: brewed 9/19 1.064, kegged 10/8 19 days later 1.011

Ingredients

Amount Item Type % or IBU
9.00 lb Pale Malt (2 Row) US (2.0 SRM) Grain 90.00 %
0.50 lb Cara-Pils/Dextrine (2.0 SRM) Grain 5.00 %
0.50 lb Caramel/Crystal Malt - 60L (60.0 SRM) Grain 5.00 %
1.00 oz Pearle [7.50 %] (60 min) Hops 26.5 IBU
1.00 oz Cascade [7.50 %] (15 min) Hops 13.2 IBU
1.00 oz Cascade [5.50 %] (5 min) Hops 3.9 IBU
1.00 items Whirlfloc Tablet (Boil 15.0 min) Misc
1 Pkgs American Ale (Wyeast Labs #1056) Yeast-Ale



Beer Profile

Est Original Gravity: 1.064 SG
Measured Original Gravity: 1.064 SG
Est Final Gravity: 1.015 SG Measured Final Gravity: 1.011 SG
Estimated Alcohol by Vol: 6.34 % Actual Alcohol by Vol: 6.92 %
Bitterness: 43.6 IBU Calories: 286 cal/pint
Est Color: 7.4 SRM Color: Color


Mash Profile

Mash Name: My Mash Total Grain Weight: 10.00 lb
Sparge Water: 3.83 gal Grain Temperature: 72.0 F
Sparge Temperature: 168.0 F TunTemperature: 72.0 F
Adjust Temp for Equipment: TRUE Mash PH: 5.4 PH

My Mash Step Time Name Description Step Temp
65 min Step Add 12.50 qt of water at 165.9 F 154.0 F