Off taste???

[Oilhead]

I've had generally good luck with "Festa Brew" but I believe I am getting an off taste on my last batch. "West Coast IPA" which I admit is the first time I had tried it, but it seems to have a slight taste of spiciness (kinda clove like) which I don't believe should be there. It's not too bad, the missus likes it just fine. I was wondering what I might have done wrong before I put on the second batch.

[Lucas]

Was your fermentation temperature higher than usual? Many yeasts produce clove-like phenols at higher temperatures.

[LeafMan66_67]

Was your fermentation temperature higher than usual? Many yeasts produce clove-like phenols at higher temperatures.

^^This^^

[GuingesRock]

Do you have a plastic spigot on your fermenting bucket? if you do, pull it apart with some pliers and you will discover a stinky, grimy black bacterial slime inside that is causing a minor infection in your beer and off flavours. Then throw the spigot away. Major infections are easy, you know when you have them, it's the minor ones that get you.

[GuingesRock]

BJCP flash card for phenolic off flavours from here: http://www.bjcp.org/docs/OffFlavorFlash.pdf" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Nova Scotia wild yeast I believe has that flavour.

Phenolic.png

[Oilhead]

Thanks for the reply's. Plain bucket with airlock, no spigot. My temps might have been a bit high, I'll try and keep a better control on it next time.

How do you protect against wild yeast contaminating your beer when your putting it on?

[GuingesRock]

It's making sure everything is thoroughly cleaned and sanitized. Is the bucket getting old and scratched at all? scratches can harbour infection.

[LeafMan66_67]

It's making sure everything is thoroughly cleaned and sanitized. Is the bucket getting old and scratched at all? scratches can harbour infection.

Don't forget the siphon hose as well - that's where my NS wild yeast problem originated a couple years back.

[GuingesRock]

It's making sure everything is thoroughly cleaned and sanitized. Is the bucket getting old and scratched at all? scratches can harbour infection.

Don't forget the siphon hose as well - that's where my NS wild yeast problem originated a couple years back.

Derek, I remember now, it was you that told me about NS wild yeast. Did I get it right that it produces phenolics?