Man of Honour
Home brewing kits ....
- Thread starter Aliboy
- Start date
Soldato
You not having much luck Gilly?
Associate
What kit was it Gilly?
Some beers can take a little bit of time to smooth out, but there could have been either some cleaning chemical residue left, or a problem during fermentation. I know it's difficult to say exactly, but how would you describe the "chemical" taste?
John Palmers How to Brew has some good information on common off tastes on beers and probable causes...
http://www.howtobrew.com/section4/chapter21-2.html
But don't be put off. Even if it has gone horrifically pear shaped, don't worry, just think of it as a learning/practice brew. Then nip down to Wilkos and pick up a Woodfordes Wherry kit as they're on offer at £15ish (or they were last weekend) which is an always reliable great premium kit.
Some beers can take a little bit of time to smooth out, but there could have been either some cleaning chemical residue left, or a problem during fermentation. I know it's difficult to say exactly, but how would you describe the "chemical" taste?
John Palmers How to Brew has some good information on common off tastes on beers and probable causes...
http://www.howtobrew.com/section4/chapter21-2.html
But don't be put off. Even if it has gone horrifically pear shaped, don't worry, just think of it as a learning/practice brew. Then nip down to Wilkos and pick up a Woodfordes Wherry kit as they're on offer at £15ish (or they were last weekend) which is an always reliable great premium kit.
Soldato
Man of Honour
It was the Woodford's Wherry kit I used.
Not sure on the taste, I can't describe it. It's not a medicinal thing, I'd say it's a bit sharp and bitter when a hard aftertaste.
It was percarbonate I used for treating the equipment - came from Wilko's in a pack.
Not sure on the taste, I can't describe it. It's not a medicinal thing, I'd say it's a bit sharp and bitter when a hard aftertaste.
It was percarbonate I used for treating the equipment - came from Wilko's in a pack.
It's not worth drinking anything from a kit until 9-12 weeks. Anything before has been a waste of a bottle imho. Everything get's left now for 12 weeks at 18 degrees. Any time I have drunk earlier it's always had that 'homebrew taste'.
I have 250 odd bottles always full. When 40 are empty I make another batch. It's the only way really to keep a nice conditioning time and keep a good supply.
I have 250 odd bottles always full. When 40 are empty I make another batch. It's the only way really to keep a nice conditioning time and keep a good supply.
Soldato
Soldato
Tell ya what trust us your address we will send you a bottle across of wherry to compare.
Soldato
Did that yeast make the sediment compact in the bottles/barrel? This is my only complaint about the Wherry, that the sediment is so easily disturbed, even after 6 months in the bottles.
I have also noticed a sharp, bitter taste that Gilly describes in a few of my bottles. I thought this might have been down to me disturbing the krausen when I was syphoning it into the bottles. Will be making another soon and will use one of them bottling wands to stop that from happening.
It was still a very nice brew though, was quite impressed with it actually.
Absolutely! That is also my biggest complaint with the Wherry, low flocculating yeast! Also, I think the S-04 attenuates a little less as you’re left with a slightly sweeter beer, which I like. Still needs at least three months in the bottle to condition well.
Man of Honour
Drew some over the weekend, it's been over two weeks now. Very cloudy, tastes like ass
Wow, thanks very much
Wow, thanks very much
Man of Honour
I'm guessing you got some kind of infection sadly :/
Soldato
Drew some over the weekend, it's been over two weeks now. Very cloudy, tastes like ass
Wow, thanks very much
Thats no probs Ill wing one in the post in next few days.
Man of Honour
Is it worth trying finings and bottling, or just accepting that I've wasted a month?
Man of Honour
I think you're out of luck. Finings won't fix it if it had an infection :/
Man of Honour
So finings wouldn't affect the taste at all, just the clarity/cloudiness of it?
The brother in law reckons it's drinkable, perhaps I just don't like the taste, but it seems 'off' to me.
The brother in law reckons it's drinkable, perhaps I just don't like the taste, but it seems 'off' to me.
I've just brewed a batch Woodfordes Wherry. It's been a week in the fermenting vessel and I've just siphoned it into a pressure barrel. It was cloudy but no crud went in with it, which is good 
It was added to 100g of brewing sugar as per instructions.
How long should I now wait before checking it out? Instructions say 2-8 weeks depending on conditions but that's a rather large time scale. Is it just a case of opening the tap and pouring some into a glass to check cloudiness?
It was added to 100g of brewing sugar as per instructions.
How long should I now wait before checking it out? Instructions say 2-8 weeks depending on conditions but that's a rather large time scale. Is it just a case of opening the tap and pouring some into a glass to check cloudiness?
After much testing I don't touch anything for 12 weeks at 18 degrees. It's around that time they seem to get near peak taste for me on everything I have done so far.
Anything I have tried before made from kit has been passable until you get to around 12 weeks, then you realise you have drunk half your batch by the time it get's really good.
People don't seem to have any patience and expect a decent kit drink in 2 weeks because the instructions lie
Anything I have tried before made from kit has been passable until you get to around 12 weeks, then you realise you have drunk half your batch by the time it get's really good.
People don't seem to have any patience and expect a decent kit drink in 2 weeks because the instructions lie