Strange sterno taste in craft beer?

[SuperX]

I've had 3 bottles in the last week from 3 different breweries that had a strong alcohol taste, and taste a bit like sterno smells. I've had doubles of the same beer on hand and in each case the 2nd bottle did not taste like the sterno bottles. I was wondering what causes this and how to avoid it in my own brewing.

I have a couple bigger beers in fermentation now and fear I am going to end up with something like this taste.

SuperX

 

[GarageDweller]

a balanced recipe and proper fermentation temps would be where I would start. The times I noticed the "hot" alcohol flavors in my brews were before I had temp control on my fermentation chamber. Not to say an Imperial stout doesn't have some alcohol flavor, but shouldn't taste like straight up ethanol. my 2cents..

 

[Nightshade]

Sounds like it may be fusel alcohols which give off a "hot" boozy flavor that is not nice.

Usually due to fermentation temperature control or stressed yeast (which can be due to ferm temps) so I would start there.

 

[SuperX]

I'm happy to say my fermentation temp is a consistent 65F. I am using harvested yeasts from known good batches so I hope I won't hit this. It is a very off-putting taste, I am not sure the result would even be good enough for fish batter.

 

[SuperX]

had another one last night, that is 2 of 3 from this brewery... do they care to know about this stuff or is it just a given that some bottles will be 'boozy'?

 

[day_trippr]

Tell us what styles of beer you're finding this sterno taste...

 

[SuperX]

Tell us what styles of beer you're finding this sterno taste...

it varies. I have had it in Rogue Dead Guy which is a maibock, Iron Horse Quilters Irish death which is a dark ale (had it twice), and American brewer Breakaway IPA.