OK, long story, sort of. In January of 2009 I brewed an Irish red ale extract kit. In February 2009 I had a massive seizure that nearly killed me. By the time my thoughts turned back to the beer in my fermenter it had been there for over 2 months, resting on the yeast the whole time. I went ahead and bottled it. I tested a bottle or two here and there but there was constantly a terrible off flavor I attributed to the extended time on the yeast. I sort of abandoned the beer, but I never dumped it.
Well, this week the Washington DC area was hit with an incredible snow storm, and being a poor planner I failed to buy any beer for the Super Bowl prior to it hitting. So today, still being snowed in, I turned at last to the remaining red ale gone awry, now over ten months in the bottle. It's not quite a red ale exactly anymore, but that terrible off flavor is completely gone. The beer is actually pretty good. A bit drier and "sharper" than you'd expect from a red ale, but still very much drinkable. My Super Bowl is saved!
Well, this week the Washington DC area was hit with an incredible snow storm, and being a poor planner I failed to buy any beer for the Super Bowl prior to it hitting. So today, still being snowed in, I turned at last to the remaining red ale gone awry, now over ten months in the bottle. It's not quite a red ale exactly anymore, but that terrible off flavor is completely gone. The beer is actually pretty good. A bit drier and "sharper" than you'd expect from a red ale, but still very much drinkable. My Super Bowl is saved!
