National Homebrew Club Ireland

Brewing Discussions => Kit Brewing => Topic started by: korndog on March 06, 2014, 08:04:38 PM

Title: Beer too sweet
Post by: korndog on March 06, 2014, 08:04:38 PM
I've got my first brew on the go, it's a coopers real ale kit. Everything so far looks to have gone to plan, good fermentation and tasted ok before bottling. I bottled the brew 4 weeks ago and have been sampling it each week to see how it is going.

The beer has carbonated well but it tastes very sweet and almost like a cider.

Is the brew still green or has something gone wrong?
Title: Re: Beer too sweet
Post by: Tom on March 06, 2014, 08:13:38 PM
Welcome to the forum.

Kits can taste a bit green/apple-y/cidery, yes. It gives you the incentive to shell out on all-grain equipment!

First brew, well done on getting a beer you can at least drink. Try leaving it a little longer before sampling the next bottle. I think you can store it a little warm for a couple of days, to encourage the yeast in the bottle to finish what it started (the apple flavour is a byproduct of fermentation which in theory can be reduced by the yeast to a flavourless compound).
Title: Re: Beer too sweet
Post by: Will_D on March 06, 2014, 08:24:18 PM
Quote from: Tom on March 06, 2014, 08:13:38 PM
I think you can store it a little warm for a couple of days, to encourage the yeast in the bottle to finish what it started (the apple flavour is a byproduct of fermentation which in theory can be reduced by the yeast to a flavourless compound).
Spoken like a true BJCP student, in answer to:

"How to get rid of (BJCPs favourite on-line question) Acetaldehyde [green apples] in my beer?"

Full marks Tom!!
Title: Re: Beer too sweet
Post by: korndog on March 06, 2014, 08:31:22 PM
Cheers Tom, That helps a lot.
I'll store it in a warmer room for a week to see how I get on.

I intend to go all grain later in the year, just want to find my feet first.
Title: Re: Beer too sweet
Post by: delzep on March 06, 2014, 08:47:05 PM
What type of sugar did you use in the kit?
Title: Re: Beer too sweet
Post by: korndog on March 06, 2014, 08:51:51 PM
The standard dextrose brewing sugar,
Title: Re: Beer too sweet
Post by: LordEoin on March 06, 2014, 08:57:38 PM
that'll make the beer thinner and feel more like cider, it'll also ferment out more completely.

Next time, use 1kg DME and brew to 21 liters.
Add a hop steep or dryhop also if you're feeling adventurous!

For this batch though, try what Tom says, otherwise drink up and learn :D
Title: Re: Beer too sweet
Post by: delzep on March 06, 2014, 09:00:17 PM
What was the final gravity?
Title: Re: Beer too sweet
Post by: korndog on March 06, 2014, 09:17:08 PM
Final gravity was 1.002
Title: Re: Beer too sweet
Post by: DEMPSEY on March 06, 2014, 10:04:54 PM
1002 is way too thin for a beer as it means you have no body. Sugar ferments out completely. :(