Help, my beer seems flat with no body

[sudzy]

This is only my second batch so I’m still very new at this, But, my first batch came out so great and now this just seems… blah. I received my brewing kit and first ingredient kit (American Pale Ale) as a gift a few months back. After brewing my first batch I was hooked. The stuff tasted great and all of my neighbors and friends wanted more. I think I got to drink six bottles out of the whole batch.

This last batch was made from a kit I bought from a local supplier, another “American Pale Ale”. Everything seemed to go just fine. I started with 1.060, active fermentation lasted about 5 days, it was in the “bucket” for about three weeks total. I ended with 1.015. Bottling was uneventful and it’s been in the bottles for about four weeks now. There is carbonation, but this stuff tastes like something I bought at the local convenience store. No body, it tastes flat, it won’t hold a head and I’m really tempted to just dump it down he drain. It’s not something I’d want to serve to my friends. Did I do something wrong? … Or is there just that much difference in the kits that are available. By the way, the supplier that the first kit came from is no longer on-line. I’m looking to brew my third batch now. But, if this is what I can expect from my local supplier, I’m not sure I’ll go back. Any thoughts or recommendations?

Thanks;
Sudzy

[Tweek]

There is a huge diference in kits. You might just want to try a diferent recipe. There is some possibilities of things that could have gone wrong, but more than likely you just dont care for the kit that you got.

[shughes600]

Sudzy,
While i don't use kits that often I would recommend Brewers Best to anyone starting out. Those were my first kits and I enjoyed them all. My local store carries them and selles online. Homebrew store (http://www.homebrewcompany.com/) I haven't had the oppurtunity to try one but he also started carrying the muntons kits. He says they are real good.

To your comments on the beer. Do you mean no body as in it won't hold a head, or no grainy/malty richness. If it is a carbonation thing maybe you should wait a little longer. Also compare your notes on your priming procedures from the two batches. If it is the flavor of the beer then I would compare the types/brands of Malt Extract used.

Good Luck

[sudzy]

Thanks, Tweeky & shughes600.

I suspected the difference in the ingredients kit first. But, then started to think that maybe I did something wrong.

Another question, is it possible that I got a little antiseptic in my brew? Could that account for the lack of flavor? The first bottle I opened, a little premature I’ll admit, seemed to have a slight aftertaste that reminded me of the antiseptic I used to sanitize my equipment. The last two bottles I opened, one last week and one this morning, didn’t have the aftertaste… so maybe that first bottle didn’t get rinsed well enough…(?)

shughes600, to answer your question… both. The carbonation seems alright, but there’s no head to speak of. That I can live with. My major complaint is in the "grainy/malty richness". There just isn't any. My first kit had some flavor and complexity that you don’t find in the stuff you bring home from the local convenience store.

I’ll move on to another ingredients kit and let you know how things go.

Thanks for the help;

Sudzy

[shughes600]

Antiseptic? I use three things. Bleach, idophor, and no rinse sanitizer. I am completely anal about rinsing after a bleach treatment. I rinse once after idophor and none after no rinse. I have ssen instruction saying that using too much snitizer can hurt your equipment. The only antiseptic I ever use is some high proof alcohol in my airlock during secondary fermentation.

Malt flavor - This is truely a very in depth topic. It goes back to the way the extract was processed. In short keep track of which ingredients give favorable results and those that don't. Some of the brew stores sell brew session logs. They are invaluable in keeping track of what worked and what didn't. Most kits that I have used do not repackage the DME, so you should be able to figure out what you like and don't like.

[S.F.B.]

Originally posted by shughes600

Malt flavor - This is truely a very in depth topic. It goes back to the way the extract was processed. In short keep track of which ingredients give favorable results and those that don't. Some of the brew stores sell brew session logs. They are invaluable in keeping track of what worked and what didn't. Most kits that I have used do not repackage the DME, so you should be able to figure out what you like and don't like.

I agree with shughes on this. Your malt flavor will also be affected by the specialty grains and the type of yeast used. Keep good notes and try different things.