Brew UK Forum | General Brewing Discussions
Beer deteriorating in barrel
Hi all,
Complete newbie here. Recently brewed my first beer from an iBrew kit, which worked fine. Have now moved on to my first full kit - St Peters IPA. After only a week in the (Youngs) barrel it tasted gorgeous, and I expected it to only get better. However, it has deteriorated in quality after only a few weeks.
Does anyone have any suggestions on what may be going wrong? Thanks.
Responses
Posted 1 year ago by Admin
Can you describe the taste?
If its a foul taste coming through then you probably have a bacterial infection but it may just be the beer developing which you may find changes further to something that you really like.
Different kits will develop in different ways so best to just keep trying a sample each week and seeing what happens.
Keep us posted.
Posted 1 year ago by Member
Difficult to describe really, but perhaps a slightly sour taste - although still drinkable. Bacterial was my first thought, but I feel I did clean and sterilise thoroughly before using.
Posted 1 year ago by Moderator
The beer will change with time, but a sour taste is bad news, usually bacteria. I had all this in the beginning, and even though you thought your sterilising was thorough, it probably wasnt. What about the tap in the syphon pipe, the tube in the pipe, the barrel tap, the hydrometer tube and a dozen other things that come into contact with the beer. This may seem odd, and I expect some will be horrified, but I use Domestos and a pressure washer to sterilise with. Wash everything and make up a 1% solution of Domestos (NOT a perfumed variety) in a bucket and put everything you are going to use in it a couple of hours before you start, and leave it there until you need it, washing it under the tap before use. Wash out the Fermenter with a strong Sodium Metabisulphite solution. Domestos works, but it's big vessel to trap residues. Use 1% solution in the barrel, blast the inside of the barrel thoroughly with the pressure washer and do the same with the barrel tap. You can't be too thorough. It's a good idea to spray the room you are using with fly spray a couple of hours before you start and keep the door shut before and during your brewing session. Seems over the top? Try going on a brewery tour and you'll soon realise how important clealiness is.
Planning: - To get some more brews on now the weather's a bit cooler
Fermenting: - Ginger Beer experiment
Conditioning: - A normal bitter with Styrians
Drinking: - All of it!!
E-mail: arnyfris@gmail.com
Posted 1 year ago by Admin
As Saracen say Sour isn't a good sign but you'll now if you have a bacteria infection as the taste will get worse over the weeks.
I would keep trying it over the coming weeks and if it gets worse ditch.
Cleanliness is the most important part of home brewing.
Posted 1 year ago by Member
Thanks for the advice - much appreciated.
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