what went wrong? (will it come right?)

[lucus_j]

Hi all, looking for a bit of a 'post mortem' on a pimped kit brew which just doesn't taste right.

The recipe was:

Brew date: 16/5/21
1 x Wilko Canadian Ale kit (bland blonde ale)
1kg beer enhancer.
250g carapils & 150g oats steeped for 30min @70C in 2L water
20min boil, with 200g enhancer. 35g jarrylo (~15%AA) @15mins.
Topped up to 21L tap water (its hard water but doesn't need campden treatment)
Bry97 yeast .
14 day fermentation @ 19C (standard 2-2-2 kit process)
40g amarillo 30g galaxy & 30g citra dry hop for 3 days at end of fermentation.
OG 1.042 - FG1.008
Bulk primed with 120g dextrose

The good:
* It's clear
* Carbonation is good
* Nice head & retention

The bad:
* no hop flavour or aroma to speak of
* sharp, bitter, almost astringent taste
* sort of smokey flavour - a bit like burnt plastic/rubber

In short, it's not ..... enjoyable - especially next to other bottles in the fridge. Looking at the date, it's 7 weeks since brew-day. I'm content to leave it be and just check in on it every now and then but to the heart of the matter, is it screwed and if so, why?

Cheers people.

 

[MickDundee]

I’m not an expert on kit brewing, especially pimping kits, but from what you’ve said it sounds either like you’ve scorched it in your boil (Smokey flavour) or it’s oxidised (bitter/astringent, lack of hop flavour)

 

[lucus_j]

Cheers chap. Both sound like reasonable explanations; no matter how careful you are & ❄ side I guess there's always a chance of both/either of those happening.

You live and learn . I've had some kit successes but I'm weaning myself off them and am on the track to 100% all grain BIAB.