Golden Stag - Too bitter

[giraffe]

I have had my Festival Golden Stag bottled for about 6 weeks, tried one yesterday and it was still way too bitter for my liking. So much so I couldn't finish it :|

I followed the instructions to the letter, so not sure if it has turned out wrong or just not to my taste. Any one else found this?

 

[graysalchemy]

Did you brew it short by any chance ie use less water?

If i was you I would put it away and forget about it for a few months then taste it. I had a bitter which i brewed and it too bitter and very harsh. i struggled with it until I had more beer on the go and forgot about the last 30 bottles.

12 months later it is wonderful beautifully rounded.

Don't give up on it just forget about it. Time is a brewers best friend. :thumb:

 

[giraffe]

No, didn't brew short.

As you suggest I will try and forget it for a few months. Just put a Old Speckled Hen extract clone on. Hopefully that will be a winner :pray: My second attempt at extract, the first wasn't particularly successful, too bitter come to think of it. I sense a theme.

 

[Wezzel]

What is your water like and have you treated it?

Hard water can make the brew taste harsh or astringent and this can be mistaken for bitterness.

 

[giraffe]

The water here in Essex is pretty nasty. Heavily chlorinated so I do pop a campden tablet in. I believe it is fairly hard water too, but don't try and treat that.

Never tried using bottled water, the though of lugging back 20 odd litres of water from Tesco doesn't appeal to me, and kind of feels wrong. But I guess its worth it of it tastes better.

 

[Wezzel]

I know water treatment seems complicated and a bit of a drag but your beer will improve immeasurably for it.

A good start is to check your alkalinity with a Salifert kit (available online or from aquarium shops) and reduce it with a little CRS liquid (from any Homebrew shop).

If you then want to go further you can get your water tested by Murphys' / get your water analysis from your water companies website and play around with Graham Wheelers water calculator or Bru ' water. Loads of stuff on this forum.