Newbie help on Scottish ALE

[Kodatech]

I followed the instructions in the brewers best kit, however I took some advice found here and left it in the primary fermenter longer, and I am bottle conditioning for 3 weeks.

That being said, anticipation took hold of me, and I decided to sample a bottle after 2.5 weeks.

Seems to have good carbonation, but will not hold a good head.
There seems to be very little body and mouth feel, with hop bitterness being the majority of the taste.
There does not seem to be any off flavors, and the first few sips(with the head) seems to taste JUST like a scotch ale...but it finishes bland and watery.

Any Ideas? I am letting the rest of the bottles condition for at least the full 3 weeks.

My NEWB curiosity got the best of me.

 

[Kodatech]

OK I just read This Thread and I think maybe my question was answered. Just let it condition longer than 3 weeks?

 

[frazier]

I don't know about that kit. But my Scottish was bitter and disappointing after 3 weeks. A month later, it just got better and better. So give it time.

 

[Kodatech]

Cool. Thanks frazier. What made yours disappointing at first? Lack of mouth feel and body, or something else?

 

[frazier]

I think just too much bitterness. But it subsided. It was an all-grain recipe, if that helps. What was in yours?

 

[Kodatech]

Mine has some grains, and some Liquid Malt Extract, AND some Dried Malt Extract. It is the scottish ale kit by brewers best that you can read about here at their site.

 

[SwampassJ]

Mine has some grains, and some Liquid Malt Extract, AND some Dried Malt Extract. It is the scottish ale kit by brewers best that you can read about here at their site.

Shouldn't be bitter with what they gave you. You might be perceiving the quarter lb of smoked malts as astringent. What was your finished gravity? How long did you have the beer in the fridge before you popped one? A few hours vs 2-3 days can make an amazing difference in the amount of CO2 being dissolved into the liquid vs sitting in the head space.

 

[jonmohno]

Time. i made a scottish 80 and went from ok to amazing.I almost didnt care for it much @ 3-4 weeks. Especially with some of the roasted,darker malts,it seems they need to conditon to start coming out well.Head seems to need age also.From what i rememer though a lot of scottish beers commercially seem not to really have much head and are carbed lower.Carbonation seems to be a factor along with hops put those two together and you get alot.
I usually have good results quick chilling a fully conditoned beer and i usually drink them that way (freezer for 40 min) or a few days pulling them out when i want one.Gernerall concensus is too cold conditon it for two weeks, but i like to keep room temp condtion them to see how nicely they age.And i dont have the patience or room to chill them that long.

 

[frazier]

The only thing that jumps out at me is that Jamil's recipe in Brewing Classic Styles uses 2# of specialty grains with the extract, while the BB kit uses less than 1#. You might try using extra grains next time, to get the extraq body you seem to be missing.

Also, I don't know what yeast you used - I use WLP028 which is the Edinburgh yeast.

Anyway, give this batch some time to get better, while mulling over your next batch.

Cheers!

 

[Kodatech]

I don't remember the yeast, it was the packet that was included with the kit. As for the F.G. it was 1.010.

Im letting them condition some more.....about to pitch the yeast on a nice blonde ale!