Expert: Ed Westemeier - 7/28/2008

Question
Thanks for your time.

I recently brewed my first batch, an American Cream Ale from Brewers Best.  I worked with a more experienced friend, so I know we did everything well, but I'm curious about the results.

The beer tastes...Ok...But seems a little dry.  Some who drank it said it almost reminded them of the taste of wine. However, when I add an orange slice (i.e. Blue Moon on draft) it really removes the dry taste and gives a nice mellow flavor.

What happened that I need to add an orange to take the edge off my beer?

Thanks again.

Answer
Several things are possible, such as oxidation or overbittering. The addition of a little extra sweetness/flavor from the fruit could have covered it up.
When you use a kit, you can't really know exactly what to expect or what to do next time to correct a perceived problem. That's why so many people eventually move to all-grain brewing in order to have more complete control over the process.