Beer smells like apples

[blackdouglas]

Just threw out the last couple of pints of my Cooper's A.P.A. I don't think the barrel was properly sealed and will need to check the valve again before I use it. I've used up a whole cannister of CO2 on two brews.

Anyway, was going to finish the barrel last night but when I poured it it smelled of apple juice. Took a sip and didn't really like the taste, it wasn't that bad and probably not harmful but I threw it out anyway.

Acetaldehyde?

 

[Wendy1971]

sounds like aceldehyde green apple sour taste caused by either the beer being stale or exposure to the open air at some point.

 

[31bb3]

How long has the brew been in the barrel and what type of barrel is it ?

 

[blackdouglas]

It's been sitting for a couple of weeks, maybe just under a week with a few pints left in the bottom. It's one of those plastic pressure barrels.

 

[31bb3]

was there any pressure in the barrel did the beer have any carbonation

 

[blackdouglas]

Didn't appear to be any pressure in it when I opened it and the beer was pretty flat from the start.

 

[31bb3]

Sounds to me like what wendy said id check the barrel for leaks round the cap is it a new barrel

 

[blackdouglas]

I bought it 2 years ago but I've only used it 5 times. It was in storage for a while. valve is a bit rusty underneath. It was leaking out air, which was maybe because I was adding too much CO2 causing the valve to freeze, not sure. I vaselined it and screwed it on pretty tight.

 

[eggman]

I vaselined it and screwed it on pretty tight.

Don't over tighten the lid, i found this out the hard way when i started out If it's done up too tight the washer in the lid will distort and you'll loose pressure.
I just use thumb and forefinger to tighten it gently until it meets resistance, the pressure from priming will do the rest :thumb:

:

 

[31bb3]

id be inclined to clean the rust off the valve with some emery cloth that wont help you brew p fins s30 valves can be a bit temperamental not a fan of them tbh

 

[blackdouglas]

OK, I was told you had to tighten it as hard as it will go. I'll remember that in future. Will give it a clean on the underside before next time. Probably going to bottle next brew. I'm not really a fan of the barrels either to be honest.

 

[mickyfinn]

little tip i picked up due to curiosity , the white sealing washer for the cap soak it in boiling water before sealing barrel .The heat makes the foam washer return to its origional state :

 

[eggman]

I'm not really a fan of the barrels either to be honest.

I lost my first ever brew due to a leaking lid but once you get the hang of sealing the lid correctly they're perfect for ales. I've got 3 budget kegs :thumb:
Once the keg is empty i would try flipping the washer over and fill the keg with water. Seal the lid gently, gas it up and then brush some water with a few drops of washing up liquid in it round the lid and valve to see if it's sealed properly. It's better to pratice and waste some gas rather than lose another brew
:

 

[blackdouglas]

Cheers Mickeyfinn

Eggman, I have a new washer somewhere that I bought so I'll replace the old one and do a few test runs on before I use it again. I might just buy a standard lid without a valve and use the barrel for parties and stuff.

I also might sell it and use the money to buy some beugels.

Who knows. Should I sample of bottle of me newly bottled brew two days into priming?

 

[eggman]

Have you checked that the valve is done up tightly enough on the lid? As they tend to come pretty loosely fitted in my experience, try giving the nut inside the lid a very gentle tighten with a wrench to nip it up a bit.
I wouldn't bother getting a standard lid if you're planning to drink alot in one night or use it for a party as after a few pints there'll be no pressure and you would have to open the lid to let it pour by gravity alone. Your best bet is to have a couple of practices with the lid you have already :thumb:
I posted on your other thread too but it won't taste great after such a short time and you will be disappointed, give it at least a week in the warm and then a couple of weeks somewhere cooler to condition properly before trying it
:

 

[blackdouglas]

I think I know what the problem is here. I was just sterilising the barrel and had it half filled with warm fluid, gave it a shake about inside and what usually happens when you shake warm water around in an airtight vessel- the air pressure builds up in inside. This then caused some of the liquid to spray out of the top, and a further investigation into where exactly the liquid was coming out revealed it was coming out of the sides because the lid was screwed on too tight. I repeated the same process with it screwed on less tight and it held the pressure when I shook it. You can sort of see the rubber washer becoming slightly distorted out of shape if it is screwed on too tight, with enough light. So I reckon that is why my last brew went completely flat and started forming esters.

It's definitely bottles from now on though, latest brew of Woodeforde's Admiral's Reserve was very good, but it's all gone and now I have to make some more.

I was thinking, is it possible to get these rubber washers in black instead of white, as then it would be easier to see that it isn't bent out of place when I next use it? and hopefully there will be no problems next time...

 

[eggman]

I was thinking, is it possible to get these rubber washers in black instead of white, as then it would be easier to see that it isn't bent out of place when I next use it? and hopefully there will be no problems next time...

Not sure mate :hmm: i've only ever seen white ones for the budget kegs. It sounds like you've got the process sussed now though and i'm sure you'll have better luck should you use your keg again :