Early taste test

Wed May 09, 2012 3:51 pm

Well, Ive decided to crack open a bottle of my Cream Ale thats been carbonating in the bottle for only a week. I know for a fact thats its not even close to being ready to drink, but I want to do this as a personal learning experience so I can get an understanding for what the "green" taste actually is, and hopefully be able to identify it in the future.

Anyone else ever purposely do something like this, just to learn for future problems that might come up?
Hoythews71
 
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Re: Early taste test

Wed May 09, 2012 4:51 pm

I typically have pull a bottle a week and chill it down and try it. Certainly lets you appreciate how your beer matures and carbonates when given enough time. It's also handy for knowing when it's carbonated and ready for you to toss the first 6 pack in the fridge!
Spiderwrangler
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spiderwrangler
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Re: Early taste test

Wed May 09, 2012 5:06 pm

I always test new recipes at weekly intervals for exactly what you are thinking. To experience the greenness and see how it develops. It is fun. Keep notes.
gotsumbeers
 
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Re: Early taste test

Wed May 09, 2012 6:39 pm

I completely get the green taste now! Its almost a tart bitterness in the back of you're mouth. I'm sure it varies for different brews though. Definitely was flat thought.

I crash cooled a bottle in the freezer, got busy with things around the house, and accidentially froze the bottle pretty solid...my bad. The very first taste was straight alcohol, but Im actually glad I could taste it because I was a little concerned about sprinkling dry yeast directly into room temperature wort, and how well it would ferment. I followed the directions on the package though. Next thing that had me worried was the way I sanitized bottles. I had read a soap free run through the dishwasher on high heat and a high temp steam dry would work, so I tried that instead of soaking bottles in the tub. I'm kind of a nut about sanitation with my equipment too.

Going to give it another week then crack another one open. We'll see how it goes!
Hoythews71
 
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Re: Early taste test

Wed May 09, 2012 8:00 pm

Hoythews71 wrote: I had read a soap free run through the dishwasher on high heat and a high temp steam dry would work, so I tried that


In my opinion, don't. I don't trust that dishwasher is going to be able to spray up inside the narrow neck of the bottle well enough to thoroughly clean and then rinse the interior of the bottle. Along with that, I don't trust that there isn't stuff down in the inner workings of my washer that I'm not going to want up inside my bottle. The heat cycle should sanitize, but I don't trust that they are clean.
Spiderwrangler
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In the cellar:
In the fermentor: Belgian Cider
In the works: Wooden Cider
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spiderwrangler
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Re: Early taste test

Wed May 09, 2012 9:09 pm

I wouldnt do the dishwasher. Even if I did have one.
Maybe get a bottle tree if you plan on alot of bottling.
Or soak em in a bucket a few at a time.
Another soapless way is to put them in the oven.
Load up the oven then turn it on to 350. Hold it at 350 for like five minutes. Turn off the oven and let them cool overnight.
Perhaps you could put a small amount of water in the bottles and put a bit of tinfoil on the mouths.
Stack them in there laying down.
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snowcapt
 
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Re: Early taste test

Thu May 10, 2012 2:25 am

spiderwrangler wrote:I don't trust that dishwasher is going to be able to spray up inside the narrow neck of the bottle well enough to thoroughly clean and then rinse the interior of the bottle.


That was my thought too, but I got impatient and wanted to make something happpen. Probably just go back to soaking them in a no-rinse solution.
Hoythews71
 
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Re: Early taste test

Thu May 10, 2012 2:30 am

My dishwasher barely cleans my dishes, there's no way I'm trusting it with my beer. Maybe if I had a brand spankin new one with turbo boosters, otherwise I'll stick with star san. The best way to make bottling easier- KEGGIN.
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mtyquinn
 
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