Metallic taste in my darker beers

[Dr_Unkenly]

Hi all,

For the last few months I have been noticing a definite metallic taste in my darker beers. That is ambers, reds and stouts.

My paler beers taste absolutely fine using the same equipment and processes.

I buy pre-crushed grain kits from GEB. Grainfather to mash and boil. Combination of plastic and SS FVs for fermenting and dispense from mini kegs using a party star tap or Klarstein.

I clean with Oxy (and Grainfather cleaner for the GF) give everything a good rinse with water and sanitise with Starsan.

Any ideas what might be causing this? Initially I thought it could be the MKs but I've used the same kegs for both dark and pale and only had the issue with the dark beers.

 

[serum]

It could be a water issue as darker malts are more acidic. Water that's good for pales isn't good for dark beer and vice versa.

 

[MickDundee]

On an aside, how is your Klarstein? I've been selling some of my old vinyl records on eBay and I'm considering getting one with the proceeds. I struggle to chill my mini kegs sufficiently and SWMBO has been moaning about me keeping a dozen ice packs in the freezer. I saw a major difference in the quality of carbonation in the beer from my MKs over the winter when they could chill outside properly.

Is it the CO2 version? Does it keep the beer as fresh for as long as the PartyStar? It's the newer "Skal" model I have my eye on.

Really sorry to derail your thread, but it's your own fault for mentioning the Klarstein!

 

[Dr_Unkenly]

It could be a water issue as darker malts are more acidic. Water that's good for pales isn't good for dark beer and vice versa.

I've used my hard London tap water (treated with campden), Morrisons Penine vale water (which I believe is hard) and the same Asda Eden falls water that I use for my pales and am getting the same results.

I didn't always have this issue, it's come up since around Christmas time.

Is there anything specific about water that would cause metallic flavours in dark beers?

 

[Dr_Unkenly]

On an aside, how is your Klarstein? I've been selling some of my old vinyl records on eBay and I'm considering getting one with the proceeds. I struggle to chill my mini kegs sufficiently and SWMBO has been moaning about me keeping a dozen ice packs in the freezer. I saw a major difference in the quality of carbonation in the beer from my MKs over the winter when they could chill outside properly.

Is it the CO2 version? Does it keep the beer as fresh for as long as the PartyStar? It's the newer "Skal" model I have my eye on.

Really sorry to derail your thread, but it's your own fault for mentioning the Klarstein!

No worries Mick.

I got the old non-CO2 version. Does well with lower carbed beers like British ales and Stouts but anything else loses it's 'zing' after a day or two (but still tastes ok, just loses the wow factor).

I did a review of it on here.

http://www.thehomebrewforum.co.uk/showthread.php?t=65699

I am currently trying to persuade the wife that I need to get the newer Skal version you are looking at.

 

[Wilfy]

No worries Mick.

I got the old non-CO2 version. Does well with lower carbed beers like British ales and Stouts but anything else loses it's 'zing' after a day or two (but still tastes ok, just loses the wow factor).

I did a review of it on here.

http://www.thehomebrewforum.co.uk/showthread.php?t=65699

I am currently trying to persuade the wife that I need to get the newer Skal version you are looking at.

Just drink it faster.

 

[MickDundee]

No worries Mick.

I got the old non-CO2 version. Does well with lower carbed beers like British ales and Stouts but anything else loses it's 'zing' after a day or two (but still tastes ok, just loses the wow factor).

I did a review of it on here.

http://www.thehomebrewforum.co.uk/showthread.php?t=65699

I am currently trying to persuade the wife that I need to get the newer Skal version you are looking at.

Thanks. I'd been looking at these in July but the fact both machines claimed to only keep beer fresh for 7 days put me off and I went for the PartyStar. The Skal doesn't have this disclaimer which makes me think they've solved whatever made them claim this in the first place.

Anyway, as you were - metallic tastes people - Go!

 

[MyQul]

I've used my hard London tap water (treated with campden), Morrisons Penine vale water (which I believe is hard) and the same Asda Eden falls water that I use for my pales and am getting the same results.

I didn't always have this issue, it's come up since around Christmas time.

Is there anything specific about water that would cause metallic flavours in dark beers?

I was going to suggest similarly to serum that it could be the water as your pales are fine but London water makes superb dark beers(at least Peckham Springs council pop in SE London, where I am does ) straight out the tap with a mimimum of treatement. I just use a camden tab for dark beers.

 

[Dads_Ale]

Found this description from an article in Craft Beer and Brewing:

Metallic Taste - Metallic flavours usually come from - surprise - metal. That metal may come from the mash tun, the boil kettle, or even your water itself. Sometimes stale malt can come across as metallic as well.

As you do not get the taste with your pale ales then the malt might be worth looking at and trying a different supplier to see if there is any difference.

 

[Dr_Unkenly]

I've been drinking my Vienna steam lager and no issues so I'm supposing it's not dark beers per se.

The only common factor with the metallic beers is large amounts of crystal malt (there's none in the Vienna).

It could be the malts themselves but I'm sure someone else would be having this issue too if that were the case. I know quite a few of you use GEB.