Shoolboy error

[West wind]

My first brew (Wherry) for six years did really well. It's been bottled for three weeks so I decided it was time to test one. It tasted like last week's newspapers......bloody oxidization

During bottling I forgot to top them right up and left too much air space in the neck of the bottles. I could kick myself I opened another with a smaller air gap and it's really nice. Hopefully it's just one bad bottle but time will tell. One thing that springs to mind is the 'off' tasting beer was from an old PET bottle and the good beer was from a new glass bottle! They're off to cold storage now until December so fingers crossed.

 

[RGeats]

My first brew (Wherry) for six years did really well. It's been bottled for three weeks so I decided it was time to test one. It tasted like last week's newspapers......bloody oxidization

During bottling I forgot to top them right up and left too much air space in the neck of the bottles. I could kick myself I opened another with a smaller air gap and it's really nice. Hopefully it's just one bad bottle but time will tell. One thing that springs to mind is the 'off' tasting beer was from an old PET bottle and the good beer was from a new glass bottle! They're off to cold storage now until December so fingers crossed.

Whenever I bottle I use a little bottler. These fill to the brim then when you withdraw the bottler you are left with an air gap. I wouldn't say what you are tasting if down to oxidation.

3 weeks is early, when I've brewed wherry before it's been a couple of months of conditioning before they taste great. I'd try to leave the rest a few weeks before trying another.

 

[West wind]

I used a little bottler but didn't let them fill right up. I've a feeling the old PET bottle may have had some old residue in it that sneaked through quality control as I'm quite anal about hygiene.

 

[RGeats]

If the second you tried was OK then it's more likely to be an issue with the single bottle. 2 options, open another straight away to check, or see how long you can wait until opening a second!

 

[MickDundee]

If it’s an old PET bottle then it’s more likely the bottle than the headspace, especially after only 3 weeks. It might also just be young.

 

[Joust]

Sounds like you need to try another 9.

Then you'll know for sure if they're good. And if they're bad - you won't care

 

[Wherrypuzzled]

Damn. I have brewed 17 litres of Admirals Reserve for a mates 70th Birthday bash. There were 18 litres to start but I sampled one - they are around 3 months in the bottle

I havent bottles anything for 40 years and the one I tried had a very very slight fizz when opened but tasted great and tasted "carbonated" SO I reckon as I picked my bottle at random I left too much head space

I batch mixed the sugar - but was perhaps too wary of bottle bombs - so having read the op I reckon the rest will be the same (bugger)

 

[West wind]

If it’s an old PET bottle then it’s more likely the bottle than the headspace, especially after only 3 weeks. It might also just be young.

Nail on head I think! I've opened and sampled a couple more today and they're nice for a very green beer. Panic over and lesson learned: double check ALL bottles are squeaky clean and properly sanitized.

 

[West wind]

Damn. I have brewed 17 litres of Admirals Reserve for a mates 70th Birthday bash. There were 18 litres to start but I sampled one - they are around 3 months in the bottle

I havent bottles anything for 40 years and the one I tried had a very very slight fizz when opened but tasted great and tasted "carbonated" SO I reckon as I picked my bottle at random I left too much head space

I batch mixed the sugar - but was perhaps too wary of bottle bombs - so having read the op I reckon the rest will be the same (bugger)

Sounds good to me. If it tastes great I wouldn't worry about a bit of fizz.

 

[Wherrypuzzled]

Yes - it did taste good and verified by a third party LOL but still a bit disappointed as its for my friend next door

He wont care but I have learned a lesson - next time fill em up a bit higher !