Off flavor everytime

[UglySister]

That could be it! Maybe I'll try one more time.

 

[UglySister]

For those of you wanting a flavor description, it is "ink from a ball point pen". I guess it is what many on here refer to as the twang from LME. I've been wanting to get go full grain anyway, so now I'm doing it. I can't wait! I think for my first batch I'm going to do a clone recipe of "Famosa" also called "Gallo" in some countries.

 

[55x11]

My first lager is in secondary now. I would have preferred to use a carboy, but because I had left it in primary for 16 days I was afraid it would not replace the air in secondary so I went straight to keg and used my co2 tank to pure air. Was that not necessary?

everyone is fishing in the dark because there is absolutely no information to diagnose anything. "It tastes off-flavor" without being able to describe what this is, is akin to showing up to doctors office and saying, I think I am sick, maybe a part of my body hurts, I am not sure - figure it out!

So everyone goes for the laundry list of: fermentation temperature, yeast health, ingredients quality/freshness, sanitation, transfer/bottling, etc.

Sort of like a doctor saying to you - put a cast on every limb, take some ibuprofen, a lot of painkillers, antibiotics, don't eat or drink anything for a while, and keep yourself in bed while avoiding all human contact. This may cover a lot of angles, but it's not a real diagnosis - because you never told the doctor what the PROBLEM is!

 

[sky4meplease]

For those of you wanting a flavor description, it is "ink from a ball point pen". I guess it is what many on here refer to as the twang from LME. I've been wanting to get go full grain anyway, so now I'm doing it. I can't wait! I think for my first batch I'm going to do a clone recipe of "Famosa" also called "Gallo" in some countries.

If you move to all grain we will never know if that was the culprit.
I think you should brew one more batch that you will potentially have to choke down (with DME).
You know take one for the team.
Otherwise how will we sleep at night?

 

[UglySister]

Ok one more, but someone has to come help me drink it!

 

[flars]

Ok one more, but someone has to come help me drink it!

Don't buy any ingredients from your LHBS. Order from a reputable supplier.

 

[sky4meplease]

Ok one more, but someone has to come help me drink it!

I'm down!

 

[UglySister]

Ok, so I will go ahead and brew the last kit. Here is recipe for the boil along with a picture of hops I have on hand. I like hoppy beer! Any suggestions on how to hop the brew up. Which hops to add and when?

 

[UglySister]

I also have a large bag of Columbus hops my neighbor grew. They have been kept in the freezer in a zip lock but have still turned brown. I don't know if I should use them.

 

[UglySister]

This the better looking side.

 

[derekcw83]

I have a question for you. How long have those hope been in those ziploc bags in the freezer?

 

[UglySister]

Late fall

 

[UglySister]

I should have vacuum packed them.

 

[Yooper]

I have a question for you. How long have those hope been in those ziploc bags in the freezer?

Not long. Having them in the freezer is good, but oxygen is a huge issue. Vacuum sealing and keeping them in the freezer would be much better.

The home dried hops may be useless, and I wouldn't use them. Smell any of your hops and if they smell fresh and fantastic, they are probably ok. If they don't smell great, toss them.

 

[Mainer]

everyone is fishing in the dark because there is absolutely no information to diagnose anything. "It tastes off-flavor" without being able to describe what this is, is akin to showing up to doctors office and saying, I think I am sick, maybe a part of my body hurts, I am not sure - figure it out!

So everyone goes for the laundry list of: fermentation temperature, yeast health, ingredients quality/freshness, sanitation, transfer/bottling, etc.

Sort of like a doctor saying to you - put a cast on every limb, take some ibuprofen, a lot of painkillers, antibiotics, don't eat or drink anything for a while, and keep yourself in bed while avoiding all human contact. This may cover a lot of angles, but it's not a real diagnosis - because you never told the doctor what the PROBLEM is!

You should brew one more batch, but do it in bed, alone, with a cast on every limb, without eating, and add a half pound of Ibuprofen at flameout. That should do it.

 

[derekcw83]

I suspect those hops for some of the issue. I used to do the same thing with my hops and they were ruining my ipa's. Always use fresh vacuum sealed hops.

 

[UglySister]

I suspect those hops for some of the issue. I used to do the same thing with my hops and they were ruining my ipa's. Always use fresh vacuum sealed hops.

Ive only used the once and they were fresh off the vine. That was my best beer so far.

 

[derekcw83]

Well I'm referring to the pellets in the ziplocs too that you posted in the pics

 

[Dan65]

I used to get off flavors as well. I always developed leathery flavors when I did BIAB. Then I found out that it is called brew in a bag, not brew in a boot.

 

[brick_haus]

Oxidized hops, from what I hear, will cause astringency. Since I began limiting hops exposure to "air" I havent had the astringency problems that I used to have.
Had a professional brewer once say that my beer actually made him thirsty!!!
Love your hops and produce better beer, and kits might not be the way to go? Foodsaver ... Get/keep fresh hops...

 

[derekcw83]

I thought I was saving money buying hops by the pound and storing in the freezer in a ziploc. I ruined so many ipa's this way... finally switched to fresh hops, haven't had the problem since.

 

[sky4meplease]

I was given a pound of centennial hops a while back that had been opened and a very small portion used before being rolled up and stored in the refrigerator in a plastic bag.
I did a 1 gallon SMASH to test them out. It was the most puckering astringent mess and I chocked down all but one bottle that still sets in my cellar as a reminder to not use old hops or old ingredients all together. And that includes yeast.

 

[UglySister]

So, the fresh picked hops are bad for sure. The pellets are about 3 months old and smell normal.

 

[derekcw83]

I'd still be worried about them not being vacuum sealed for that long. But that's me. If you're able to, do a split batch with old hops and brand new hops.