Fermentation - Lost cause?

Question

Fermentation - Lost cause?

Jason

2016年4月6日 08:05

I believe my first homebrew is a lost cause. I'm at 3 weeks, and each week I've done a gravity reading and a taste. The flavor has gotten increasingly sour(astringent) with each week.

It's almost vinegary, but with a citrus twist. It's like eating the pith of an orange peel and it's getting worse with each test.

My understanding is that I likely have some sort of infection: http://beersmith.com/blog/2012/08/12/sour-off-flavors-in-home-brewed-beer/

Recipe:

BSG's Bavarian Hef extract kit
2 x 3.3 lb cans Wheat LME
1 oz German Hallertau hops
11.5 g Fermentis WB-06
one orange peel added to boil (pith fully scraped off)

Gravity readings:

week 1 - 1.012
week 2 - 1.010
week 3 - 1.014

Topic fermenter contamination off-flavor fermentation homebrew

Category Mac

Franklin P Combs · Accepted Answer · 2016年4月6日 08:05

Sour, astringent and vinegary. Definitely sounds like bacterial contamination ("Infection"). Lactic and acetic acid also both have higher specific gravity than water or alcohol, so that's probably why your gravity went up between weeks two and three.

Lost cause? I don't know, can you stand to drink it? If not, it's certainly not going to get any better with time.

What is your sanitation regimen? And what equipment are you using to ferment in? A bit more info could definitely help us to try and pinpoint any potential sources of infection.

piojo · Accepted Answer · 2015年2月25日 06:47

A friend of mine tasted a big batch right before a party and realized it had gone sour. His wife convinced him to serve it anyway and act really proud, so everyone assumed it tasted that way on purpose!

I also once read the advice: if you brew a beer and don't like it, add some fruit juice and everyone that tastes it will assume it's "one of those weird lambics".

To summarize: use it up at a party. :D

Denny Conn · Accepted Answer · 2015年1月17日 17:15

1

Denny Conn answered at 2015年1月17日 17:15

It could be an infection, although there doesn't appear to be anything wrong in the pictures. Maybe you just don't like the style?

Fermentation - Lost cause?

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