Apologies in advance as this might get a bit long but bear with me.
I have identified the same off taste in my last two beers. It is almost, but not quite, medicinal and almost but not quite cardboard. It isnââ¬â¢t overpowering and if I tried I could probably still drink the beer but it is very noticeable and not pleasant.
The beers are a hoppy lager (bottled) and a hoppy bitter (kegged into a corny)
Common Factors
ââ¬Â¢ Ingredients were purchased at the same time from the same supplier but no common ingredients between brews
ââ¬Â¢ Both brewed using a grainfather and counterflow chiller
ââ¬Â¢ Both fermented in the same plastic bucket
ââ¬Â¢ Lager was bottled by way of a bottling bucket primed with boiled sugar syrup and taste was apparent after first tasting at 4 weeks. Did not taste before this so it may have been present earlier
ââ¬Â¢ Beer was kegged direct from fermentation bucket with no priming sugar and taste was evident on kegging
ââ¬Â¢ Lager is now 2 months old and beer has been kegged for 3 weeks and taste is still there although I do not think it has got any worse.
Iââ¬â¢m really not sure what is causing this, however, I have for my last few brews been altering the mash PH using CRS and associated chemicals (gypsum etc) as appropriate for the beer style. This does rely on the water report that I have being correct but I do also check the PH with litmus strips and a PH meter and the Mash PH is generally between 5.2 and 5.4
For a full clean I use VWP and believe I rinse appropriately (until no chlorine smell) I have been brewing on and off for around 20 years so do understand the importance of this.
For brew day sanitation I use Star San made up with Tescos Ashbeck water.
Fermentation takes place in my spare room. No brew fridge but cool.
My next steps are:
ââ¬Â¢ Deep clean of grainfather. I clean using grainfather cleaner after every brew but have not yet checked the pump for potential contamination. Will strip down pump and ball valve and ensure no matter is stuck anywhere in there.
ââ¬Â¢ Deep clean of fermenter. I do this after every brew anyway. There are no apparent scratches on the plastic and the bin is relatively new (less than 1 year old).
ââ¬Â¢ Brew using grainfather but cool using immersion chiller rather than counterflow chiller. I canââ¬â¢t physically inspect the insides of the counterflow chiller. It is cleaned after every brew when I do the grainfather but if I use the immersion chiller I can eliminate the potential of this causing some kind of contamination.
I know that cardboard taste can be due to oxidation and am careful with splashing after fermentation but am open to any suggestions on minimising this.
I was going to start using a pump and airstone to introduce more air into the wort prior to pitching the yeast but will hold off on this until I bottom this out, unless anyone thinks this may be due to inadequate aeration?
Also, I am fully prepared to accept that despite what I think I am still not rinsing the cleaner off my equipment well enough so will be extra careful next time but I did get a mail through about a new cleaner ââ¬ËBruzymeââ¬â¢. Itââ¬â¢s not clear if this is a rinse free cleaner but it looks like it might be. Anyone tried it?
Sorry this is a bit rambling but any ideas or suggestions would be gratefully received.
Cheers
I have identified the same off taste in my last two beers. It is almost, but not quite, medicinal and almost but not quite cardboard. It isnââ¬â¢t overpowering and if I tried I could probably still drink the beer but it is very noticeable and not pleasant.
The beers are a hoppy lager (bottled) and a hoppy bitter (kegged into a corny)
Common Factors
ââ¬Â¢ Ingredients were purchased at the same time from the same supplier but no common ingredients between brews
ââ¬Â¢ Both brewed using a grainfather and counterflow chiller
ââ¬Â¢ Both fermented in the same plastic bucket
ââ¬Â¢ Lager was bottled by way of a bottling bucket primed with boiled sugar syrup and taste was apparent after first tasting at 4 weeks. Did not taste before this so it may have been present earlier
ââ¬Â¢ Beer was kegged direct from fermentation bucket with no priming sugar and taste was evident on kegging
ââ¬Â¢ Lager is now 2 months old and beer has been kegged for 3 weeks and taste is still there although I do not think it has got any worse.
Iââ¬â¢m really not sure what is causing this, however, I have for my last few brews been altering the mash PH using CRS and associated chemicals (gypsum etc) as appropriate for the beer style. This does rely on the water report that I have being correct but I do also check the PH with litmus strips and a PH meter and the Mash PH is generally between 5.2 and 5.4
For a full clean I use VWP and believe I rinse appropriately (until no chlorine smell) I have been brewing on and off for around 20 years so do understand the importance of this.
For brew day sanitation I use Star San made up with Tescos Ashbeck water.
Fermentation takes place in my spare room. No brew fridge but cool.
My next steps are:
ââ¬Â¢ Deep clean of grainfather. I clean using grainfather cleaner after every brew but have not yet checked the pump for potential contamination. Will strip down pump and ball valve and ensure no matter is stuck anywhere in there.
ââ¬Â¢ Deep clean of fermenter. I do this after every brew anyway. There are no apparent scratches on the plastic and the bin is relatively new (less than 1 year old).
ââ¬Â¢ Brew using grainfather but cool using immersion chiller rather than counterflow chiller. I canââ¬â¢t physically inspect the insides of the counterflow chiller. It is cleaned after every brew when I do the grainfather but if I use the immersion chiller I can eliminate the potential of this causing some kind of contamination.
I know that cardboard taste can be due to oxidation and am careful with splashing after fermentation but am open to any suggestions on minimising this.
I was going to start using a pump and airstone to introduce more air into the wort prior to pitching the yeast but will hold off on this until I bottom this out, unless anyone thinks this may be due to inadequate aeration?
Also, I am fully prepared to accept that despite what I think I am still not rinsing the cleaner off my equipment well enough so will be extra careful next time but I did get a mail through about a new cleaner ââ¬ËBruzymeââ¬â¢. Itââ¬â¢s not clear if this is a rinse free cleaner but it looks like it might be. Anyone tried it?
Sorry this is a bit rambling but any ideas or suggestions would be gratefully received.
Cheers