Tried First Beer, Tastes Yeasty

[downhill_biker]

I tried my first two batches last night, on bottle of each. They both tasted a little yeast-like, the Cream Ale more than the Oktoberfest. They were decent, but definitely need to get rid of that yeast flavor. I also noticed the bottles have about 1/8" of sediment in the bottom. Will the yeast flavor go away? Any way to help this happen?

The batch was fermented for 2 weeks and bottled, has been bottled for about 2 weeks. Carbonation was okay, no real head or anything, but was definitely carbonated. Is this just a matter of needing more bottle time?

 

[jfr1111]

Needs more bottle time and a careful pour. Sticking them in the fridge for a week will also remove more yeast out of suspension.

 

[malkore]

leave in primary 3 weeks, and cold crashing...will help get a clearer beer and contribute less sediment.
you always have sediment with bottle conditioned beer but 1/8" is a little thick.

 

[japhroaig]

if you are sensitive to yeast flavors, the best way to minimize them is a longer, cooler fermentation. i get away with two weeks because i use Nottingham yeast, irish moss, two-stage clearing agents, cold crashing, and kegging. And I sometimes filter as well.

It'll get better in time in the bottle, but getting the beer as clear and bright before you bottle will make a bigger difference.

 

[coypoo]

Pouring correctly is important. After they have been in the fridge for 3-4 days (to make sure the yeast that is in the bottle settles out) carefully pour in a slow, steady fashion. Try to not let bubbles go up the neck and slap into the back of the bottle b/c that will stir up the yeast, and look into the neck while you are pouring. When you are getting close to the end you will see a dark cloud of yeast coming towards the neck. Just stop pouring right before the yeast gets out and you should be go to go.

 

[downhill_biker]

Thanks for the tips guys. I noticed the two bottles I sampled were a lot cloudier than the other bottles in the basement. They might have gotten shaken up a bit in the fridge. I will try again, and if they still taste of yeast I will give them more bottle time.

My two batches in the firmenters have been in for 2 weeks and I am planning on taking them and racking into the bottling bucket and back into the firmenters after rinsing them. Just to get some of the sediment out, kinda like putting them into a secondary. Then I will leave them in the firmenters for another week. This sound like a good idea?

 

[Hang Glider]

Fermentation Temps ?

(very important!)

 

[japhroaig]

You don't need to, but you can. Just keep things clean, and make sure the wort doesn't get much air in it. I.e. no sloshing, bubbling, gurgling, etc. Getting air in your beer won't cause problems immediately, but if you age it for a few months then it may start to taste like stale cardboard.

 

[downhill_biker]

Fermentation temp is a steady 70 degrees. Temp in the room they are in is 65 degrees. How exactly does this change things? I am just curious as to the science behind this?

I just racked the wort into secondaries. Both had SG of around 1.010, so they should be good to go in the secondary. I used a racking wand so no excess air, and sanitized, so should be good there.

 

[japhroaig]

regarding ferm temp--higher temps create different flavors, including yeasty flavors. 70 is on the high side, so i would expect it to taste fruitier, esterier, and maybe breadier. the actual science is a little complex, but depending on the yeast strain temperature will make them produce more or less cogeners (for lack of a better word) that affect flavor. In general, the slower the fermentation, the fewer cogeners.

SG is an important measurement, but clarity and aroma are equally as important. You can rack with the same SG, but clarity and aroma/taste can be quite different. Again, this is all to taste. My own palate is quite coarse, and I suspect your ales would probably taste quite fine to me

 

[downhill_biker]

I tried another of each brew and paid more attention to the pouring technique and LOVED my beers. They were both really good and I see them getting better with age. Thanks everyone.