Ok - So what did I do wrong??

[wineshop]

Hi. I've brewed 4 batches of beer now. The 1st was an extract IPA that came out very nice. The 2nd was a mini-mash red ale. This is where my problem is. My gravities were dead on (based on the kit instructions). But basically it really just tasted bad. I know "bad" is subjective, but I'm not sure how exactly to describe it. Just not good. I also feel like I was extremely careful in cleaning (I use star san for disinfecting). I brewed the beer about 3 months ago. So it's been in the bottles for quite some time. Tonight I finally poured the bottles down the drain. When I did they were super foamy. As I popped off the caps they spewed pretty good, and when I poured it seemed to be mostly foam.

If I'm guessing - I can think of 2 potential problems. I may have scorched the wort on the bottom of the pot. And I may have fermented too hot (like, in the low 70's). Could either of these been the cause of my failure? And I suppose I still may not have been diligent enough in cleaning. But my other 3 batches have been fine and I did them the same. Any ideas or suggestions?? Thank you! Just don't want to repeat whatever I did wrong!

 

[LostBrewer]

I've experienced that if the bacteria called Mother of Viniger gets into my bottle, you can always tell because it's extreamly foamy. I've even had bottles explode, and the alcohol has been convertied to viniger, which would make it taste BAD.

My other experience is if it ferments at 70+ it will end up having a grapefruit taste to it. As in, sour. If you let it set for a summer at room tempreature, it will mellow the flavor, but it'll still be there.

I hope this helps some.

 

[simcoe26]

Hi. I've brewed 4 batches of beer now. The 1st was an extract IPA that came out very nice. The 2nd was a mini-mash red ale. This is where my problem is. My gravities were dead on (based on the kit instructions). But basically it really just tasted bad. I know "bad" is subjective, but I'm not sure how exactly to describe it. Just not good. I also feel like I was extremely careful in cleaning (I use star san for disinfecting). I brewed the beer about 3 months ago. So it's been in the bottles for quite some time. Tonight I finally poured the bottles down the drain. When I did they were super foamy. As I popped off the caps they spewed pretty good, and when I poured it seemed to be mostly foam.

If I'm guessing - I can think of 2 potential problems. I may have scorched the wort on the bottom of the pot. And I may have fermented too hot (like, in the low 70's). Could either of these been the cause of my failure? And I suppose I still may not have been diligent enough in cleaning. But my other 3 batches have been fine and I did them the same. Any ideas or suggestions?? Thank you! Just don't want to repeat whatever I did wrong!

I would guess is possible you are over carbed or the bottles were not clean enough. Also if you scorched the wort then the beer would have a have caramel to smoke to Burt flavor depending on how bad the scorch was. Fermenting in that temp will give you of flavors but not anything IMO that would be bad enough to pour out everything. And like you said home brewing sanitization is never fill proof so you may just have gotten a bug