Why does each bottle taste a little different

[sillyblue]

I bottled an IPA a few weeks ago and the hoppy-ness of each bottle seems different. Some are more hoppy than others. I know the favor can change over time however the change is not going in one direction. For example the first bottle I had was very hoppy then the next few we're not so hoppy, then I had another hoppy one. Why does this happen?

Thanks

 

[beerman0001]

Is the temp that you are drinking them at the same?

 

[Yooper]

I have a feeling that the beer is the same, but how you perceive it is different each time. Some days, I've eaten spicy food or had a cup of coffee and then the beer tastes less hoppy. I noticed that with my beers, sometimes my stout tastes more roasty than others but I'm sure that's my perception of it at that moment because the next day it's not.

 

[sillyblue]

Is the temp that you are drinking them at the same?

Yeah, i put it in the fridge for a few days prior to drinking them. Then pop one open and pore it into a glass

 

[F250]

I have a feeling that the beer is the same, but how you perceive it is different each time. Some days, I've eaten spicy food or had a cup of coffee and then the beer tastes less hoppy. I noticed that with my beers, sometimes my stout tastes more roasty than others but I'm sure that's my perception of it at that moment because the next day it's not.

This sounds right. I often marvel at how consistent the pro brewers are. It's almost like those guys know what they are doing.

Rick

 

[sillyblue]

I have a feeling that the beer is the same, but how you perceive it is different each time. Some days, I've eaten spicy food or had a cup of coffee and then the beer tastes less hoppy. I noticed that with my beers, sometimes my stout tastes more roasty than others but I'm sure that's my perception of it at that moment because the next day it's not.

Interesting. I never thought of that.

 

[Greyhound]

I have a feeling that the beer is the same, but how you perceive it is different each time. Some days, I've eaten spicy food or had a cup of coffee and then the beer tastes less hoppy. I noticed that with my beers, sometimes my stout tastes more roasty than others but I'm sure that's my perception of it at that moment because the next day it's not.

I think this is the answer. This happens to me all the time, whether I'm drinking bottled homebrew, kegged homebrew, or commercial beer. I'll think there's something different about the beer when there's really something different about my taste buds or perception of the beer.

 

[rklinck]

It might also be that you are more tuned in to the flavor of the homebrew. When I am drinking a commercial beer, I am not worried about where there are off flavors etc., so I just enjoy the flavor. With my brews (I am only starting to sample my second batch), I am constantly swishing the beer around my mouth to ponder the flavor. I think that as a result, I pick up different flavors at different times because I am paying much closer attention.

 

[F250]

This sounds right. I often marvel at how consistent the pro brewers are. It's almost like those guys know what they are doing.

Rick

Geeze, just noticed the OP was referencing his brew, not store bought. Whodda thunk it.

Rick