Beer aging

[justin27]

I extract brew with specialty grains. I use liquid yeast and I stick to ales. Sometimes when I transfer to my keg the beer will have a strange taste. After a couple of weeks this goes away. Is the beer aging or are my taste buds changing ? If aging what is really happening to the beer ?

Justin:confused:

[brewmonkey]

That is what we call "green beer" and it is a sign that your beer just needs a bit of time to come around.

[HogieWan]

Originally posted by brewmonkey
That is what we call "green beer" and it is a sign that your beer just needs a bit of time to come around.

I've found that my ales that are @ 5-6% require 6 weeks from pitching to drinking. They taste pretty good at 4 or 5, but really need 6 before I'll present them to someone.

[justin27]

So what makes some beer "green" and others ready to drink after two weeks. I use the same DME this leaves the types of grains I steep or the yeast. Are some grains mode prone to making "green" beer?

Justin :confused:

[HogieWan]

the yeast makes a big difference as well as tempeture during fermentation.

[fretlessman71]

Also, I think the lighter your beer, the faster it's ready to drink. Pretty sure, anyway.

[HogieWan]

Originally posted by fretlessman71
Also, I think the lighter your beer, the faster it's ready to drink. Pretty sure, anyway.

yeah - that too. As yeast ferments sugars into alcohol, they also create other compounds that make the beer taste funny. The yeast eventually get to these, or they fall out of solution.