off taste question

[EndlessPurple]

I've got my beer in the primary and just took a reading. When I tasted it, it had a strong flavor - I am guessing a strong alcohol flavor would be most accurate - maybe a touch astringent. Sorry - still new to this. I did not notice this taste on May 14 when I took a reading (1.018) and added two vanilla beans (put in boiled water for 10 min first)

It may be just because it is a high ABV mix and I don't know if this is normal - input appreciated.

I am wondering if this is something that will age out and maybe if I should move to a secondary for a few weeks? or if this is an off flavor and I am wasting more time on it. If my SG was stable when I next checked on Saturday I had planned to bottle.

(It does smell really good though)

Back notes:
Started May 6 with OG 1.072. May 23 - SG 1.012 (which is a few points lower than calculator estimated other parts were right on)

Has been in a room at a constant 72 degrees room temperature since May 6.
White Labs Golden Ale Yeast
4 gal batch

Thanks and let me know what other info would help.

 

[yeastluvr]

I cant say I've ever put vanilla in a beer so I dont know what off flavors if any that would impart. I wouldn't worry about certain off flavors as of yet as the beer probably needs to clear and bottle condition for 3-4 weeks or more, assuming your bottling. I have tasted beer out of the fermenter and have been very disappointed only to taste it a month later and it is great. Dont worry about it at this point.

 

[iambeer]

It sucks that you have to boil expensive vanilla beans before using it. Isn't there a better way, like soaking it in vodka for a few days and then dumping the whole thing in?

 

[homebrewdad]

The problem is that you are tasting what's in the fermenter - not the finished beer. Lots of flavor changes happen between here and full carbonation... and often, even beyond that.

 

[stalewater]

It sucks that you have to boil expensive vanilla beans before using it. Isn't there a better way, like soaking it in vodka for a few days and then dumping the whole thing in?

Thats the route i would of taken, maybe not vodka but bourbon, once you get the beer off of the yeast cake it will always taste different. I try my beer at every stage as I'm sure everyone here does and it always taste different from primary ro secondary to bottle.

 

[EndlessPurple]

appreciate the responses. No worries then at this point. I will let it sit a little then bottle once stable and give it plenty of time in the bottle.

I didn't have any bourbon or vodka so water was my other option.

Any opinions on longer in the bottle or should I add a secondary step for a couple more weeks since it looks like this will be arount 8% abv?

 

[KevinW]

Without knowing what your grain bill was it can be difficult to tell however it sounds like you could have some alcohol bite, maybe some fusels are in there as well with a
fermentation near the higher end of the tolerance - up to 75°!

A few weeks extra conditioning time in the bottle could not hurt in your case! (personally I would not "secondary") 3-4 weeks primary, 3-4 or 6 weeks in the bottle!

Good luck

 

[duboman]

The beer needs to finish conditioning, carbonate and then bottle condition a bit, that being said, definitely take notes on your first impression so if you brew the beer again you can reference and play with your fermentation temperatures accordingly, this is the learning process of refining a good beer and making it better!

All of my house standard beers have gone through this process until I'm happy with the final result, sometimes as many as 10 tries to get it tweaked just right, the note taking ensures future consistency!