Is my beer too hoppy? Funny taste, tangy yuk after taste!

[Adzmax]

I've done a pretty thorough search on this topic but didn't manage to find any really good info. I'll start with my Recipe (it's a bit of a strange one, just experimenting)

Morgans 1.7kg Golden Saaz Pilsner
Morgans Master Blend 1 Kg Wheat Malt
500g LDME
1kg Matled Wheat grain (steeped @ 65c for 1 hour)
Wyeast - Weihenstephan Weizen 3068
Hallertau hops 60g (1/2 at start of boil, half in last 5 mins)
Hersbrucker hops 12g teabag (finishing, added 5 days into fermentation)

22c Fermentation for 10 days
OG: 1.060
FG: 1.014


This has been my first bad brew in my opinion. I've had nothing but trouble from the start. I made my yeast starter and left it too long before I pitched it, about 3 or so days (I was far too busy) and time it was pretty inactive.

On my last batch using this yeast I had a huge Krausen. Whilst the airlock had a large amount of activity for 2 or so days no large Krausen typical of this yeast developed. That and the fact that there only seem to be activity for about 4 days which I thought might be too quick?

I added the finishing hops as instructed. I added the bag to a cup of boiling water, allowed to cool then pitched the liquid and bag.

Now my problem is that I've tasted the beer and it has a REAL bitey aftertaste, I wish I'd tasted it before I added the finishing hops. It's not all that pleasant. I'm not sure if the taste is from the hops or maybe some kind or problems. It tastes to me like a VERY strong hoppy taste, too strong in my opinion.

Do you think this taste may dissipate? I'm just after some input/comments. I'm going to bottle it tonight anyhow and see what happens Smile

Thanks in advance guys!

[BierMeister]

I think your problem is the receipe mate. Are you trying to make a wheat beer or a pilsner? The pilsner kit has lots of hops which is not normally present in a wheat style beer. You have then added more hops to the mix. Fortunately though the hops taste melds and mellows with age so if you can't drink it first up give it 4-6 months and taste again.

Don't worry about the yeast. It's normal that it reacts different in different conditions. Main thing is that it fermented out to around the correct gravity and there is no really off tastes(infection type tastes).

[Adzmax]

Yep, as I said bit of a strange one. I was after a wheat beer, I was just using up left overs and decided to have a bit of a play. I wont try anything like this again

[BierMeister]

You live and learn don't you?

Pity too, as you could have made a nice wheat beer and a Pils with just another kit and a bit more LDM.

[Adzmax]

Yeah well thats it, It's a steep curve

I was thinking the Pils base would be good for a wheat alone though seeing saaz are not to bad with wheat beers. Should have avided the rest.

Anyhow I'll bottle and taste some time next year, who knows might be ok!

[lethaldog]

A bit to warm IMHO and i would say to much in the way of hops to, thats about the same amount of hops that i would add to an extract brew and i bet the can was already fairly well hopped

[BierMeister]

Give a bottle a try in 2-3 months as it will taste different from the green beer you tried from the fermenter. If its still a little too hoppy then leave it another 3 months or share it with those that don't know any better. I'm sure it's not that bad.

[Adzmax]

Hahaha, nice idea. Or get drunk and drink them once I cant taste the difference!

[ACTbrewer]

PIlsners like the cooler fermenting temps.

Remember also that your Pilsner kit will be hopped as well. This all adds to the mix.

I used to think it was a wank when AG brewers said they liked AG because they could control all the ingredients. Now I know why!

[chris.]

I wouldn't imagine that your aftertaste is from the Pilsner can (unless it was out of date? - possibly extract twang?) I actually think it'd be a good choice for a wheat. Perhaps a little hoppy for a wheat though.

I agree that perhaps you've added to much hops.... well, for your tastebuds anyway . But that also depends on how long your boil was?

Could maybe even be an infection?

If it is the hops they will die down (within reason) with time.

[Danzar]

I double hopped a Blackrock Pilsner using exactly the same hops, although I used less Hallertau.

Had the same super-hoppy taste after sampling two weeks later, although far less bitterness (for obvious reasons).

After a solid couple of months in the bottle it actually turned out to be one of the best Pilsner's I've had.

Adzmax - did you rack, and if not, have you sampled from the bottle that was the last one you filled? Put that one in the fridge for a few days then try it. I find the last bottle that's bottled is the one you can sample early and gain a sneak preview of what's to come. I'm not sure why, but it has something to do with the excess sediment. While the over-hopped taste will still be there, you may find it a bit more balanced.

Seriously - let this one go. Pilsners should be left for longer anyway.

You may be surprised.

[Adzmax]

OK well funny thing, I may have jumped the gun here. I bottled this one last night, I havn't tried racking yet....couldn't really make up my mind on it

I poured a glass from the end of the fermenter and had a sip, not bloody bad. Not sure what the taste I was getting before was. It's a pretty hoppy beer now with a bitter taste but strange enough, mixed with the yeast I used it's not bad at all.

Should be interestign in a coupld of months. Will let you know how it go's.

[OldBugman]

Maybe you were taking sips of the trub..

[Adzmax]

Quite possible, the original sample was from a test flask for the FG, perhaps I drank some of they yukky trub.

I poured a glass last night and let it settle while I packed away my stuff, then I tried it. Much better

[OldBugman]

OG tastes nothing like the final product.

[Adzmax]

Lol, stupid me. I mean FG