An old goat needs help!

[evanvine]

I have been brewing beer for neatly 30 years, but now I have developed a problem!
My brews are begining to take on a TCP type taste about 8 wks after brewday.
My ferments habitually take 4 wks!
Am I boiling too vigoursly, or do I have other problems?

And I thought I knew it all!!!!

 

[wilsoa1111]

TCP taste sounds like txtbook chlorine from water hitting hop oils-fix by putting a crushed campden in every 5 gallons of brewing water- bit more if not leaving for a few minutes, should fix it right up- i noticed my brews got this when the water company recently did some "improvements" inconsiderate people they are... :evil:
as for long brews, get yeast and ferment temps right and all should go well-if not could be water again-maybe need some buffering??? perhaps invest in a reverse osmosis/filter system then ur sorted and just add minerals to suit the beer...
never heard of 2 vigourous a boil its all good :lol:

 

[evanvine]

Thanks for the comment on the boil W.
I, as a matter of course, use 1 CT in my HLT.
The other consideration is, I used a yeast I had grown from a pint of pedigee.

 

[BIGJIM72]

Same here -had been using the same FVs for around 20 years. Bought some new FVs,problem solved.

 

[bunkerbrewer]

Have you changed your sanitisation method recently? Just a thought - I had "medicinal" problems with a brew that had tiny residual amounts of a chlorine based sanitiser from bottling.

 

[evanvine]

BJ and BB both, I hear what you say!

 

[dennisking]

I would certainly look at your sanitising first. Just extra rinsing might solve the problem.

 

[Aleman]

Infection!

 

[evanvine]

Infection!

That statement is as legion as it is unhelpful!
A few names and sources may be of more use!

 

[Aleman]

Infection!

That statement is as legion as it is unhelpful!
A few names and sources may be of more use!

The most common source of TCP tastes in beer is that produced by infection . . particularly wild yeasts, although there are some bacteria that contribute. . . The answer is to clean everything really well . . . In fact buy new FV secondaries, tubing . . . everything that touches the beer post boil. . . . and while you are at it take a good look at your cleansing/disinfection routine.

 

[evanvine]

Thank you Tony, that now makes sense!
One or two others have said similar.
I think I may have a xmas list. :