What did I do wrong?

[jimmymac]

So I think I ruined my first batch some how. I brewed an Amber Ale and it came out with a funny taste, so I checked the FG (after bottling) and the hydrometer went straight to the bottom of the flask. I'm assuming that means something happened during fermentation? Anyways, I made the mistake of not checking my FG before bottling, some I'm not sure what it was. It has a very sharp taste to it, but still has a "beer" flavor. I thought it just might be green, but the FG has me worried. Has anyone run into anything similar?
Thanks,
Jim

 

[Yooper]

When your hydrometer sunk to the bottom, did you try adding more beer until it floated?

Right now, I'd suggest testing it in some water the same way you did the beer. If it sinks to the bottom, check the bottom for a crack. That's not normal.

 

[Hoppin_Mad]

^
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that is exactly what I did with my first hydro reading....felt like an idiot when I added a little more beer and it floated

 

[jimmymac]

Haha, definitely a DOH! moment. There wasn't enough beer in the flask. My OG came out to a 1.01. Isn't that pretty low?
Thanks for the quick responses!
Jim

 

[Xaphoeous]

awesome...sorry, jimmymac, I don't mean to laugh at you, but that cracked me up.

It reminds me of my first batch, when i kept reading the same sample over and over and over as I added water to the wort to fill up the bucket! Oh man, I felt like a total maroon when I realized what I had been doing!

Good luck with the beer and future brews! Leave that beer sitting a little longer to see if the flavor improves...it probably will.

 

[Pezman1]

Sorry, but I was laughing too. Very funny.

I agree with Xapho. Let the beer sit for a few weeks and try it again. If it improves, let it sit even longer. When it tastes good, stick it all in the fridge.

Yes, I'm speaking from personal experience. I was appalled at the taste of one of my first beers at bottling, but after a month it was actually rather tasty.
Pez.

 

[ajf]

Haha, definitely a DOH! moment. There wasn't enough beer in the flask. My OG came out to a 1.01. Isn't that pretty low?
Thanks for the quick responses!
Jim

1.010 is pretty low, but that doesn't mean there's anything wrong. I've had plenty of beers that have fermented lower than that, and they've been fine.
Check out http://www.bjcp.org/2008styles/style10.php#1b
It shows that 1.010 is within range for the FG of an American amber ale.
Did you get the FG reading at the calibration temperature for the hydrometer (usually 60F)?
If the temperature of the sample was higher, you need to apply temperature correction. i.e. If the sample temperature was 70F, a reading of 1.010 indicates a true gravity of 1.011.
Also, it is not unusual for a hydrometer to be a few points off. Have you checked the accuracy of yours by testing the gravity of tap water at the calibration temperature?
I wouldn't be at all surprised if your reading of 1.010 actually turned out to indicate a true FG of 1.014 (which is to the high end of the range for the beer).

-a.

 

[jimmymac]

No need to apologize, I laughed too. All part of being a noob, have to laugh off the mistakes or you can't learn anything!

I guess I'll just have to be patient.

 

[iron_city_ap]

That's the hardest part of this hobby.... being patient.