Expert: John Snyder - 5/17/2007

Question
QUESTION: Hi,
I brewed three times from home.  The first time I brewed a red killians type of beer that had awesome red / clear color yet the beer had a kick to it.  Then i brewd a batch of fosters type beer and it tasted great.  My third batch was a boston lager type beer which I orginal brewed at a BOP but my home brew version seems to taste similar to the red killians beer...  so is this really what a bad brew taste like?  And if not how can you tell?  I normally clean everything out before and after I brew with one stop.. I also use bottled water for all my home brews.



ANSWER: Can you describe,what you call a bad brew taste,in more taste detail.?It's possible,it could be a fermentation problem.Boston Lager,has an unique taste by design,due to the fermentation technique used

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: the brew taste is a deep taste with a kick to it.  The boston larger was done bubbling in 3 days which i thought was really weird and fast. But it looked fine when i went to bottle it, settlement was on the top and bottom.  the closet temp was about 64-66 degrees, which it may need to be 50-60 right?  so that could be the issue.

does this help any?

Answer
the higher the fermentation temp,the faster the fermentation proceeds.64-66 F is too high for a Lager.This accounts for the 3 day,end point of active fermentation.High fermenting temps,produce,more flavors,Ex:banana like,estery,fullness affect,fusel oils,aldehydes,etc.50 to 60F is tops for a lager fermentation.Yeasty by-products of high fermentation,also enter the taste equation.Alcohol content is established during mashing,high fermentation temps would not increase the alcohol content.the taste you are describing is that of high fermentation temps,not as a result of poor cleaning,and sanitizing.Fermentation is an exothermic reaction,(heat is given off during fermentation)the heat given off has to be controlled.

hope this answers your taste question

         John