Mosiac Pale Ale - No head or carb :(

[Toredan]

Wife wanted to learn about making All Grain with me so I decided to do a Clibit SMASH.

http://www.thehomebrewforum.co.uk/showthread.php?t=51779

So, recipe was as follows;

1kg MO
5g Mosiac @ 60
10g Mosiac @ 15
10g Mosiac @ FO

Bottled after 10 days or so and left in bottle for another 10.

At first (as per usual) it looked like wallpaper paste. However in the bottle it dropped out crystal and came up at 4.3%. Not bad. However, after pouring the first bottle tonight it's not got a single bubble and not even a hint of a head. It's weird, primed with 2.5g of dextrose in each bottle and left in the warm for 10 days. Other than glassware what am I missing? I usually add barley and wheat to my brews so they're never really lacking a head. I did use VWP sanitiser and I'm wondering if perhaps I didn't rinse the bottle enough after sterilizing. Am I being paranoid?

 

[Dutto]

Not paranoid but maybe just a bit impatient?

VWP is a chlorine based sanitiser and requires rinsing before use and may be causing the problem. If this is the case then it could be confined to just the one bottle. (Here's hoping!)

You don't say how big your bottles are but the 2.5g of dextrose for a 500ml bottle is at the very bottom of the recommended amount (see Calculators above) for 2.0 volumes of CO2.

The length of time is also not indicated but from Mash to First Taste for me an absolute minimum is 42 days; and that's under ideal conditions. If you started this brew after the 5th October then you shouldn't be expecting anything just yet.

I suggest that you leave it for at least another week before trying another bottle. :thumb: :thumb:

 

[Toffee]

Also, how warm are the bottles? Maybe move them somewhere warmer for a week?

 

[yeastinfection]

warm and wait,,,as above...nice one on the wife taking part :thumb:

 

[Brightonnik]

Had the same issue with ano amarillo pale that I made. Put them near a radiator for a few weeks that comes on intermittently and voila.

 

[DoctorMick]

The length of time is also not indicated but from Mash to First Taste for me an absolute minimum is 42 days; and that's under ideal conditions. If you started this brew after the 5th October then you shouldn't be expecting anything just yet.

I'd expect an AG pale to be drinkable in under 6 weeks, I find as soon as mine are carbed up (usually 3 weeks) they're ready to drink. Some get a little better in time but some are at their peak almost immediately.

 

[Toredan]

To be frank, I often crack open my first bottle after a week in the warm and half hour in the fridge. Usually loads of head, bit of green apple taste but that is ok for the first taster bottle. This one however didn't have a single bubble! My flat is 26c at all times and after inspecting another bottle there is the usual thin layer of yeast on the bottom. Will move to a cupboard for another week and try again. She's taking it all in her stride and actually said the beer tasted great but dead flat. :lol:

 

[Dutto]

That's an amazing photograph!

With that amount of lees in the bottom of the bottle there should be some carbonation so two things spring to mind:

1. The lees are actually yeast that has fallen out of the brew after bottling and there was no priming sugar added.

or

2. Sugar was added, the beer did carbonate but the CO2 somehow escaped. I've had it happen on a misaligned cap!

Definitely "weird"! :wha: :wha:

 

[Toredan]

Thanks mate :thumb:

Moved the batch to the airing cupboard and gave them a little shake to get the yeast back into suspension. Time will tell I guess.

However, it hasn't put her off. We brewed the Northern Brown Ale from GH's bible last night! :lol: