Nut Brown Ale - Flat Beer

[WrkdbfGuy]

Hi all,

Newbie here just did my first Brew - an extract kit from NB - Nut Brown Ale. Everything went well on brewing day. I don't think I messed anything up. I cooled the wort quickly and let it ferment in primary for 2 weeks at 65°F (more or less), then racked to the Bottling Bucket, and then bottled it to 48 bottles (of course using the supplied 5oz. of priming sugar).

Today is 14 days after bottling so I put 6 bottles in the fridge and tried the 1st one after 2 or 3 hours of chilling. It is a nice copper color, is carbonated (bubbles and even a burp), and has a hint of a head. All good I think, but when I drink it, it seems flat. Nice flavor, nothing odd or unusual, it just seems a little flat. The wife - not a big beer drinker - agrees.

Is there anything I should do to try to get it less flat? More conditioning time maybe? Or what?

Thanks, Bill

 

[MarshmallowBlue]

I find the carbonation stays in solution a bit better after around 12+ hours in the fridge.

 

[lazarwolf]

What do you mean by flat? Do you mean the taste is kinda "one tone" or do you mean the beer it self doesn't seem to have a lot of carbonation other than the head?

Brown Ales by their very style characteristics aren't super carbonated.

 

[aprichman]

Try to get the bottles up to 75F for a few more days. Put one in the fridge and let it sit at least 24 hours but 3+ days would be ideal before opening. If carbonation levels seem good I would put the rest of the batch in the fridge as well.

The basic idea is that you are creating carbonation in the warmer temperatures (bottle conditioning) and then absorbing & locking the carbonation into the beer when the bottles go in the fridge.

Keeping them cold for a few days is almost as important as keeping them warm for a few weeks!

 

[WrkdbfGuy]

Lazarwolf, by flat it just seems not very carbonated.

Aprichman, the beer has been sitting at around a room temperature of 70° or so; maybe a little less at times. Certainly no warmer than that. I am in N. Michigan and it is cold out there!

I think I'm going to experiment a bit:

1. Leave the rest of the 1st 6-pack in the fridge for a couple of days then try them
2. Put the other 18 bottles from the 1st case in the basement where it's cooler than room temperature
3. Leave the 2nd case of 24 bottles at room temp. to condition some more

We'll see what happens.

Bill

 

[lazarwolf]

if the beer is under carbonated, you dont want it cool. you want it warm for a few days, then into the cold to absorb the co2 you created when it is warm. but experimentation is always great. let us know how it turns out.

 

[WrkdbfGuy]

Well, not surprisingly, y'all were right and I've learned something. Leaving the beer in the refrigerator for a few days made all the difference, in allowing the CO2 to get absorbed. My Nut Brown Ale is very nice now!

I've also let more than half the batch sit at room temperature. I'll give them a couple more days (to make 3 weeks total conditioning time) and put them in the basement or my tool room - both of which are nicely chilly this time of year - and bring a few at a time into the refrigerator to drink.

Thanks for the help! Bill

 

[lazarwolf]

Well, not surprisingly, y'all were right and I've learned something. Leaving the beer in the refrigerator for a few days made all the difference, in allowing the CO2 to get absorbed. My Nut Brown Ale is very nice now!

I've also let more than half the batch sit at room temperature. I'll give them a couple more days (to make 3 weeks total conditioning time) and put them in the basement or my tool room - both of which are nicely chilly this time of year - and bring a few at a time into the refrigerator to drink.

Thanks for the help! Bill

No problem. Glad to help. Enjoy your Brown, whats your next brew?

 

[RM-MN]

Well, not surprisingly, y'all were right and I've learned something. Leaving the beer in the refrigerator for a few days made all the difference, in allowing the CO2 to get absorbed. My Nut Brown Ale is very nice now!

I've also let more than half the batch sit at room temperature. I'll give them a couple more days (to make 3 weeks total conditioning time) and put them in the basement or my tool room - both of which are nicely chilly this time of year - and bring a few at a time into the refrigerator to drink.

Thanks for the help! Bill

Leave half of the bottles at room temp when you move the rest to the basement and then in 3 or 4 weeks compare the different batches. :rockin: