funny taste

[avtovaz]

I have brewwed soem of ditches stout, and it has a funny little taste and smell to it that i would call that " home brew " taste..

Its a bit like bananas, its hard to discrivbe, maybe i have not cleaned something properly???


I have used vwp cleaner on everything, including my korny...

thanks.

[TC2642]

Beer smelling of bananas is usually an indication of esters, how high did you ferment out?

[avtovaz]

oh right, i dont know what that is, i just let it ferment, and 2 weeks later put it into the keg,,,

is ester a dangerous thing?

[TC2642]

Nope, just an off flavour, I would usually get this if I was fermenting at excessive temperature, for an average stout, bitter etc. you want the wort to ferment around 18-20oC, you could probably get away with 22-23oC with some yeasts but much above that and you'll get banana like aromas.

[avtovaz]

oh right, time to turn the fish tank heater down then!


I was brewing at 21 degts i thought...



ill let it off a bit then!

thanks!

[Geezah]

I brew in a temperature controlled cupboard - 60w tube heater connected to a STC1000 controller and brew Coopers stout at 20c

I have noticed the bannana flavour come and go from time to time, usually towards the end of the keg, so I personally don't believe its temperature related.

[TC2642]

I brew in a temperature controlled cupboard - 60w tube heater connected to a STC1000 controller and brew Coopers stout at 20c

I have noticed the bannana flavour come and go from time to time, usually towards the end of the keg, so I personally don't believe its temperature related.

What do you reckon then? I've always found the banana flavours appear when the temp is too high or the yeast is stressed, but I will add that, I only really do AG although I can't see that it would make that much difference.

[Geezah]

I believe its due to the brew sitting on a large yeast cake as I tend to put a stout in the keg after 10 days and be drinking it a week later as you dont see the clarity of the brew.

All brews / yeasts impart different flavours over time, and I found the coopers stout to have bannana flavour when very young and when down to the last 6-8 pints.

The Safeale SA-04 yeast tends to make every brew taste the same as a direct comparison to how yeats imparts a flavour
I brewed a Wherry and a Coopers APA with a SA-04 and both brews tasted the same.

[avtovaz]

well its a bit older now and the taste has gone!!!