Ah well, we live and learn

[hyjak]

Hey all
I have just opened up to sample the first long neck of my first forray into steeping grains.
Think it may be a 'visitor' beer as when i made it, i didn't boil the wort after steeping!!! Realised after i had finished that i should have, so i let it do its thing and can now say that by oath i wish i had boiled after steeping.
It has a really sharp, bitter after taste it may improve with age but im not real hopeful.
Ah well as they say, "shit happens!"

Jez

[leiothrix]

if it's still drinkable, i'd be drinking it quickly. it's only going to get worse, not better.

[hyjak]

Oh dont worry it has jumped the lager i was drinking to be placed in front line for comsumption!!!
Have also found that if i 'scull' it it doesnt taste as bad!!!!
Jez

[leiothrix]

i'd imagine that after having a few of them, you wouldn't notice the flavour any more either

[hyjak]

*finishes 3rd long neck*
hmm now you mention it, no you don't!!!

[Anna]

Hey all
I have just opened up to sample the first long neck of my first forray into steeping grains.
Think it may be a 'visitor' beer as when i made it, i didn't boil the wort after steeping!!! Realised after i had finished that i should have, so i let it do its thing and can now say that by oath i wish i had boiled after steeping.
It has a really sharp, bitter after taste it may improve with age but im not real hopeful.
Ah well as they say, "shit happens!"

Jez

This is interesting - I just posted a thread under "What's that taste" with a PS along the lines of your problem. I also made my first "steeped grain" K&K Dark Ale, but I DID boil for 15 minutes after steeping. Been fermenting for 10 days so far and when I tasted it on testing last night - yuk!!! So bitter and muddy. I don't know whether it's supposed to taste like that or not, as I'm very new to beer drinking and have never tasted a Dark Ale before. I added 250 gm of Crystal - wonder if that was too much? Anna

[leiothrix]

if it's just plain crystal that will give the beer more body and sweetness.

The boil will have killed off all the bugs on the grain, so assuming that your sanitation for the rest of the process was okay, just leave them for a bit and it will mellow out.

If it has a lactic or acetic infection it will smell/taste like yoghurt or vinegar.

250g of crystal should be fine depending what else you added to the kit. If it is a tin of stout and some dexrose/maltodexrin then it will be fine. If it was all malt it might end up too sweet.


Rob.

[Anna]

Thanks for that. I made the Dark Ale with Coopers BE2. It doesn't taste like it's off at all, just bitter. I'll leave it in primary for another week and then a couple of weeks to carbonate, but I can't imagine it's going to end up sweet! We'll see.... Anna

[Anna]

OK, so it's now almost 4 weeks since I bottled the Coopers Dark Ale (with BE2 and 250 gm steeped Crystal + kit yeast). And I know you'll all laugh (please remember, I'm a dark ale virgin) - but bloody hell, is it really supposed to taste like that?? Like burnt coffee/chocolate/licorice? I just can't believe it's also called "beer"! Hubby not impressed either - says he'll leave it a few months before he tries it again. (But then, he's a recently reformed VB drinker ....)

[svyturys]

Anna,
You might have a great beer there.

I am not familiar with the kit you used but I've done the British Bitter and it horrifies my neighbour, a VB fanatic. I find it great, but I do drink it at a much warmer temperature than a lager or a pale ale. The flavour is a lot better then.
Chocolate and licorice can be great flavours in a dark/stronger beer.

Also time for maturation is needed. The flavour profile will change with time. Let this one mature a little, try a bottle every few weeks at a warmer than normal temp and you might find a winner.

Cheers

[Anna]

Wow - I made a great beer! How exciting! Like the title of this thread: "We live and learn". And guess what? I forced myself to drink another glass or it last night, and by the end I actually began to like it (who woulda thought?). I then had a glass of my usual Coopers Draught and - well, frankly, it tasted like fizzy water!!!! Maybe I've been converted. I'll do what you suggest and try a bottle each week (a little warmer). I must admit though, I was shocked at my first taste - in my naivete I just never imagined it would taste so radically different to the lighter beers.

[svyturys]

Onya Anna,

Another thing with the dark beers, they are sipping beers. Not recommended for a big thirst quench on a hot day.
Did a Chimay style about 9 months ago and my father swears it is the best beer he has ever tasted. Raves about it to all that listen.

Cheers

[gregb]

Not recommended for a big thirst quench on a hot day.

sezoo?

Cheers,
Greg

[svyturys]

sezoo?

Are we talking stouts at 4C on a 30 degree summer day?

Cheers

[gregb]

You've got a dark ale, a hot day, and a thirst quencher*. What more do you need?

* Assuming og:104x fg:low 101x etc...

[Tipsy]

and by the end I actually began to like it (who woulda thought?)........................................................................... Maybe I've been converted.

Sounds like it
Another one

[svyturys]

* Assuming og:104x fg:low 101x etc.

Then I agree!

[warra48]

Nice one Anna.

You are discovering just how much flavour and variety you can get into your own beers, compared to so so many of the commercial offerings.