conpewter
Well-Known Member
I've been detecting an off-flavor in all my lighter brews for the past year probably. The darker beers do good in competitions. I was thinking this was a water profile issue so I've been attacking that. Even with good modifications I still have issues. It may be some sort of infection but it comes about slowly and doesn't seem to overcarbonate the beer (though I am kegging so it may and I wouldn't notice it since I dispense one every couple days). It could also just be residue left inside my chiller/pump setup.
I currently use a home made CFC and I'm worried that it collects residue that I can't see, or that it gets oxidation on it between brews, I actually don't brew as often as I'd like so it sits for a month or more between batches, I try to blow water out of it but I know some gets left.
Since I have an electric brew pot I don't use a hop bag, but instead I use leaf hops and a false bottom on the keg. I recirculate boiling wort through the chiller for the last 10 minutes of the boil, so I doubt infection. I ferment in glass, sanitized with star-san (I leave the star-san in it after I clean it). I've replaced my auto-siphon I use to transfer to kegs and use silicone tubing that I have sterilized in the oven a couple times. I also use silicone tubing on my brew-stand.
At this point I'm tempted to do an extract batch of pale ale on the stove, ice bath and top up with cooled water just to see if I can get a good pale ale. Maybe buy a new bottling bucket and bottle from that.
My other thought is to ditch the CFC and buy a plate chiller, I know it won't oxidize inside between brews like I fear the copper tubing does. I've also thought of changing my system over to a pure gravity system so I don't have to worry about a pump and what could possibly stick in there.
Sorry for the novel but I can't identify the off flavor, and not sure where it could be coming from. I love commercial IPAs but can't seem to replicate them. I know I sent a few pale ales along on the BW 09 swap and I didn't hear much back about them.
I currently use a home made CFC and I'm worried that it collects residue that I can't see, or that it gets oxidation on it between brews, I actually don't brew as often as I'd like so it sits for a month or more between batches, I try to blow water out of it but I know some gets left.
Since I have an electric brew pot I don't use a hop bag, but instead I use leaf hops and a false bottom on the keg. I recirculate boiling wort through the chiller for the last 10 minutes of the boil, so I doubt infection. I ferment in glass, sanitized with star-san (I leave the star-san in it after I clean it). I've replaced my auto-siphon I use to transfer to kegs and use silicone tubing that I have sterilized in the oven a couple times. I also use silicone tubing on my brew-stand.
At this point I'm tempted to do an extract batch of pale ale on the stove, ice bath and top up with cooled water just to see if I can get a good pale ale. Maybe buy a new bottling bucket and bottle from that.
My other thought is to ditch the CFC and buy a plate chiller, I know it won't oxidize inside between brews like I fear the copper tubing does. I've also thought of changing my system over to a pure gravity system so I don't have to worry about a pump and what could possibly stick in there.
Sorry for the novel but I can't identify the off flavor, and not sure where it could be coming from. I love commercial IPAs but can't seem to replicate them. I know I sent a few pale ales along on the BW 09 swap and I didn't hear much back about them.
