Lager darkening and changing taste whilst conditioning

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Bobarian

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Hello all,

I brewed a pilsner kit lager in December and whilst at first it was the correct colour and tasted lovely, over the past month it has turned darker (whilst remaining clear) and changed in taste whilst conditioning in the garage. Any thoughts why this may be happening?
 
These are signs of oxidisation. The beer will often darken and some people describe a taste of wet cardboard. The most likely cause is oxidisation during the bottling of your beer. Be as careful as possible when bottling to avoid splashing into bottles, shaking the fermenter etc.

How are you bottling the beer? Into a bottling bucket? Or straight from fermenter? Bottling wand used?
 
That’s right - it does have a taste of “damp”.

so I am bottling straight from the fermenter into each bottle, adding a bit of sugar, shaking it up, then leaving it for a week at room temperature before leaving it in the garage to condition

I am trying not to create any splashes when I bottle - pouring it down the side of the bottle at an angle.
 
Consensus of opinion say that when you add sugar to the bottle once filled do not shake as you are possibly mixing the oxygen in the top of the bottle with the beer. I just cap and do not shake so it will create a small blanket of Co2 beneath the oxygen in the top of the bottle
 
As above - don't shake, it will still carb up. I would also invest in a bottling wand. This will ensure the beer does not splash into the bottle and leaves a little headroom in the bottle once the wand is removed. Not essential but very cheap and makes bottling much easier in my opinion. Good luck on the next brew
 
I agree with all the above advice. A bottling wand/stick is cheap and one of those small pieces of kit that you wonder why you didn't get one from the start. I find that it makes bottling less of a chore.

I always batch prime now but, when I used to put sugar into each bottle, I would just turn the bottle upside down once to mix everything then store the bottles in a box or crate. I didn't shake the bottle.
 
And additionally, after filling the bottles, put the cap on, but don't crimp it immediately, let the bottles stand for a quarter so that CO2 escaping from the beer can push out some air.
 
If you bottle in PET just gently squeeze the bottle when the primed beer is ready to close off, eliminate the air then put the cap on. Result no air in bottle, and when the carbing gets going the bottle will re-inflate to normal size with CO2 on top of the beer.
 
Yes oxidation for sure. Never shake & take Terry’s advice & I also do what chthon started. Bottling wand is an essential basic bit of kit. Brew again & see the difference. The upside is to drink this very quickly !
 
Don't shake, like others said.

I was taught to give them a week in the bottle then give them a quick twist. If there is sugar still at the bottom of the bottle this will get it into solution.

All the Best,
D. White
 

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