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Just tried one of my brews and it tastes like apricot and has an unpleasant odour.
Its a Brecwraft Boags Premium clone.
*Black Rock lager kit
*Brew enhancer
*Light dried malt extract
*I've got written down hops but haven't specified what type
*Saflager yeast
7 days in the primary
11 days in the secondary
Is the the apricot taste likely to be an age thing (only bottled for 3.5 weeks) or is it an infection of some sort?
I'll help answer your question by asking two more:
- What was in the brew enhancer (If you got this from Brewcraft I'd like to think this is not the problem)
- What temperature ramge were you fermenting at?
Is the brew still fermenting (ie SG is still falling)? If so, lager yeast often produces a sulfur like smell (think rotten egg gas). Learn to treasure this smell because it is normal! That said, I'd get worried if fermentation was complete and you could still be knocked out with that smell.
Some varieties of hop will lend a stone fruit character to a beer, but it is generally quite subtle. Are there any other signs of infection like excessive carbonation etc? At this stage give it another month in the bottle and see how it works out.
Definetly an infection
I did a malt shovel lager as per instructions, but in a normal
sized fermenter.Bottled and tryed after 6weeks.beatiful head
and colour,but tasted like dried apricots(yuk)
Haven't tried another malt shovel yet.
Tryed again aftr 6 mths and tasted the same
chuck it out
It's the 2nd brew in 65 that have gone off.
so odds are pretty good
Put it down to a learning curve.
most kits are great,but watch hygiene
and temps and you'll have great beers
cheers.
