cidery tasting lager

[stephent]

bottled my first brew a few weeks ago and going to start my next one on the weekend. I did a youngs lager brew and although it tastes ok it does have a slight cidery taste to it.

What has caused this? and how can i avoid this with my next brew?

Could just be how its meant to taste but i doubt it.

 

[tubby_shaw]

there are a few things to try, firstly replace the white sugar with either beer kit enhancer or spay malt as an excess of white sugar can sometimes give a cidery taste.
Next did you de chlorinate your water? If not add half a crushed campden tablet to the bulk of your water before making up your next kit :thumb:
Finally ferment at a constant 18C if at all possible, fermenting at too high a temperature or with fluctuating temperatures can give some strange flavours

 

[unclepumble]

there are a few things to try, firstly replace the white sugar with either beer kit enhancer or spay malt as an excess of white sugar can sometimes give a cidery taste.
Next did you de chlorinate your water? If not add half a crushed campden tablet to the bulk of your water before making up your next kit :thumb:
Finally ferment at a constant 18C if at all possible, fermenting at too high a temperature or with fluctuating temperatures can give some strange flavours

Agree with all the above, with the std kit stuff.

If you are after more authentic lager, Try to get some real lager yeast from your HBS when brewing lager, pitch this @ 13 deg and ferment at 13-15 deg C, this will give you a more authentic lager flavour, but if you can not stick to this temp range and the wort will be 18-20 use a clean tasting ale yeast, (I think us-05 would be good for lagers as it finishes at such a low gravity others on here will tell you better as I have a very narrow yeast variety knowledge)

Also when you buy the kit try to get one with the longest sell by date possible, i.e. the youngest looking one.

Shane

 

[stephent]

what about brewing sugar? is that the same as enhancer?

 

[tubby_shaw]

what about brewing sugar? is that the same as enhancer?

No I am afraid not brewing sugar in the home brew trade seems to be either glucose or dextrose, both of which will give a cleaner taste than sucrose (table sugar).
Beer kit enhancer is a mix of spraymalt and brewing sugar :thumb:

 

[stephent]

Using the beer enhancers will push the cost up a fair bit.

Will the brewing sugar eliminate some of the cidery taste?

What are the benefits of using 1 over the other?