Tasting your Brew just before you bottle it.

[Pliskin]

I was just curious to see how many people give their brew a taste just before they bottle it? Do you usually find it's a particularly malty flavour at that time, is this normal or what is your experience overall?

I tried it last night when bottling my replica of the Stone IPA. Would this reflect the overall taste of the brew or should I rest easy until it's full carbonated and had time to settle?

[irish_goat]

I always give it a taste but it never tastes like the finished, carbed and conditioned product. It nearly always tastes decent but you can tell it's just not ready yet.

[Pliskin]

Excellent man That's what I wanted to hear haha! I was kind of worried, but it did taste decent yea. It tasted quite good I must say, but not what I thought the finished product would taste like! Thanks for that info, that settles my nerves haha Lets see what happens in two weeks

Hopefully it's hoppy as hell as it's packed full of them bad boys

[LordEoin]

i always take a drink from the trial jar after taking FG, no point wasting it and it gives a good idea of how the beer will turn out in the end

[Ozbrewer]

I always taste it prior to bottling.  In fact, as a regular practice I now find I get a real good gauge on what the end product will be like. I recommend it as a standard practice.

[Eoin]

I've had a few pints of what I'm bottling sometimes, stouts are good at that stage.

[Eoink]

I always taste the beer  before bottling/kegging , sometimes it can even be quite good at that stage - if a bit flat. I haven't noticed it particulary malty but strong beers  have a 'rough' alcohol taste which seems to clear up in time. I use the taste as a  guide as to how soon the beer will be ready.Starters are always worth tasteing especially if you harvest the yeast. The last thing you need is to ruin 20l of wort by pitching an infected starter. I also taste the wort at different stages, the grains, candy syrup etc - almost everything except hops, those I smell.

Smell and taste are the best quality control tools we've got.