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December 2019 Exchange - Dec 4 - Pilsner

Posted: Mon Dec 02, 2019 9:06 am
by jmacdonald
Type: All Grain
Batch Size: 5 gal
Boil Time: 90 min

8lbs Pilsner Malt
1lb Vienna Malt
8oz Carapils Malt
8oz Munich Malt
52.5g Saaz Hops - Boil 80 minutes
32.6g Saaz Hops - Boil 45 minutes
28g Saaz Hops - Boil 25 minutes
1 tsp Irish Moss
2pkg SafLager S-23

Measured Original Gravity: 1.047 SG
Est Final Gravity: 1.010
Estimated ABV: 4.7%
Bitterness: 38.6 IBUs
Est Color: 3.1 SRM

Fermentation:
3 weeks @ 54 F
1 week @ 64 F
2 weeks @ 39 F in keg until bottled

Re: December 2019 Exchange - Dec 4 - Pilsner

Posted: Wed Dec 04, 2019 8:13 pm
by John G
Just having this now. My bottle is almost completely flat. Prominent acetaldehyde (green apple) in aroma and flavour. Malt flavour is bready / bread crust and hop bitterness seems good and it's crystal clear. Maybe a yeast health issue, or kegged/bottled too soon and not enough time on the yeast at warm temps clean up the acetaldehyde?

It has oxidized, sherry-like flavours and aromas as well. I wonder if the seal on my bottle didn't hold. The seal is a bit crumbly looking on the Grolsch bottle it was packaged in.

Re: December 2019 Exchange - Dec 4 - Pilsner

Posted: Wed Dec 04, 2019 8:57 pm
by wcturnedec
Sorry to say, I ran into the same thing, completely flat and oxidized, was a murky brown/purple colour.


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Re: December 2019 Exchange - Dec 4 - Pilsner

Posted: Wed Dec 04, 2019 9:29 pm
by jmacdonald
First and last time I use grolsch bottles. Sorry guys. My own was the same way. Arrrg.

Re: December 2019 Exchange - Dec 4 - Pilsner

Posted: Wed Dec 04, 2019 9:31 pm
by oceanic_brew
Same experience as those before me.

Judging only by the recipe and fermentation schedule everything checks out. The off flavours are yeast derived which points me towards an under pitch. Because of that it makes the sweet/bread of the malt unpleasant. I’m also getting a touch of oxidation which I detect more in the aroma, but it’s hard to be sure over the acetaldehyde.

There’s a decent beer here behind it all though!

Appreciate the opportunity to taste and critique.


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Re: December 2019 Exchange - Dec 4 - Pilsner

Posted: Wed Dec 04, 2019 9:33 pm
by oceanic_brew
jmacdonald wrote:First and last time I use grolsch bottles. Sorry guys. My own was the same way. Arrrg.
Did you bottle off a keg? If so how’s that tasting if there’s any left.

I’m interested to see if this is solely oxidation I am tasting/smelling.


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Re: December 2019 Exchange - Dec 4 - Pilsner

Posted: Wed Dec 04, 2019 9:36 pm
by jmacdonald
I emptied the keg filling the bottles for the advent. This could also be part of the issue as i do not do it often enough. The taste that I had when bottling was fine. I chilled the bottles down to fridge temp, dispensed at low pressure and topped with CO2 and closed right away.

Maybe I need to leave it a week at higher pressure to over carb the beer before bottling?

Re: December 2019 Exchange - Dec 4 - Pilsner

Posted: Wed Dec 04, 2019 9:38 pm
by Halifax_Jeff
Same experience here. Did you pour into the bottles from a tap or did you use a beer gun?



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Re: December 2019 Exchange - Dec 4 - Pilsner

Posted: Wed Dec 04, 2019 9:40 pm
by jmacdonald
Halifax_Jeff wrote:
Wed Dec 04, 2019 9:38 pm
Same experience here. Did you pour into the bottles from a tap or did you use a beer gun?



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Beer gun

Re: December 2019 Exchange - Dec 4 - Pilsner

Posted: Wed Dec 04, 2019 9:58 pm
by oceanic_brew
jmacdonald wrote:I emptied the keg filling the bottles for the advent. This could also be part of the issue as i do not do it often enough. The taste that I had when bottling was fine. I chilled the bottles down to fridge temp, dispensed at low pressure and topped with CO2 and closed right away.

Maybe I need to leave it a week at higher pressure to over carb the beer before bottling?
I had some oxidation issues doing exactly that until I started flushing the bottles with co2 previous to filling. Else you’re just mixing your beer with oxygen.




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Re: December 2019 Exchange - Dec 4 - Pilsner

Posted: Wed Dec 04, 2019 10:07 pm
by CartoonCod
Poured flat, dark amber or light brown in colour, no head retention. I'm getting a cardboard oxidized character as well as some acetaldehyde.

Re: December 2019 Exchange - Dec 4 - Pilsner

Posted: Wed Dec 04, 2019 10:36 pm
by mdentremont
I don't have anything to add guys, but it was really fun to try and figure out my impression before checking the comments though, my brewing judge senses are definitely not great!

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December 2019 Exchange - Dec 4 - Pilsner

Posted: Wed Dec 04, 2019 11:31 pm
by PMackie
Nothing to add either to what was already said. This can happen to anyone and I appreciate the beer. I filled mine from keg as well. I use the beer gun and shoot C02 in first and then fill it. I then sometimes shoot a bit more C02 in the top if I feel it’s not filled enough and started using those oxygen eating caps. I had no off flavours in the Big Spruce comp and been having a bottle every few days to check my carb and make sure there is no oxidization. I’m Paranoid haha


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Re: December 2019 Exchange - Dec 4 - Pilsner

Posted: Thu Dec 05, 2019 9:49 am
by wcturnedec
jmacdonald wrote:
Wed Dec 04, 2019 9:36 pm
I emptied the keg filling the bottles for the advent. This could also be part of the issue as i do not do it often enough. The taste that I had when bottling was fine. I chilled the bottles down to fridge temp, dispensed at low pressure and topped with CO2 and closed right away.

Maybe I need to leave it a week at higher pressure to over carb the beer before bottling?
Seems like your filling process was sound and you purged with C02.

Like you mentioned, carbing a little higher than you normally do should help with some C02 loss during the fill process and in the time in sits in the bottle. I've done this before and haven't had issues, however my Black Saison was very carbed and had a great deal of C02 coming out of suspension when I filled which makes me a little nervous! Finger crossed!

Re: December 2019 Exchange - Dec 4 - Pilsner

Posted: Fri Dec 06, 2019 12:04 am
by GCR
This one had some carb for me and looked pretty... it's been a while since I've brewed anything that wasn't opaque, and this was definitely clear!

Got the same green apple, etc... as others - and this isn't my preferred style by far - but I felt like the backbone was there for this to be a tasty representation of the style... maltiness level tasted pretty spot on for me for what I would like. Thanks for sharing!Image

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Re: December 2019 Exchange - Dec 4 - Pilsner

Posted: Fri Dec 06, 2019 9:02 am
by darciandjenn
Unfortunately, we had the same experience as the other posters - flat and oxidized. Still appreciate the work that went into this beer. Cheers!

Re: December 2019 Exchange - Dec 4 - Pilsner

Posted: Sun Dec 08, 2019 4:08 pm
by mumblecrunch
I liked the bitterness level and those are some nice Saaz hops, but otherwise I had the same issues with it as everyone else.

Re: December 2019 Exchange - Dec 4 - Pilsner

Posted: Wed Dec 11, 2019 11:22 pm
by amartin
Mines decently carbed, or a bit low maybe. There’s some oxidation and acetaldehyde, so I don’t really have anything to add. It’s still something nice to drink after shovelling!


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