Very bitter lager from Festival kit

[MA71]

So looking to understand what might have gone wrong here, brewed a festival new world lager kit as per instructions, apart from a slight deviation in that I only had the dry hop pellets in for 3 days instead of 4 as instructed. Wanted a less hoppy beer.
Temp held at 15-18 through the fermentation and starting and finished sg was good so achieved around 4.2% abv.
Condition in the bottle with carb drops and after 6/7 days I’ve tried a bottle just to check carb levels etc and the flavour is really bitter and colour is darker than expected relatively clear, no off flavour, hoppy but super bitter.
Any thoughts on where I might have gone wrong here? It’s my first kit after mainly brewing ciders with no issues.

 

[UKSkydiver]

I know you said "as per instructions", but...

If you used less water, that would make it more bitter... and that would also raise the ABV, but worth mentioning just in case.

 

[Rwilts]

I presume the kit was in date?

 

[MA71]

I know you said "as per instructions", but...

If you used less water, that would make it more bitter... and that would also raise the ABV, but worth mentioning just in case.

Was 23L into the fermenter so should be fine there.

I presume the kit was in date?

yeah

 

[Rwilts]

Given you havent done this before what are you basing your opinion on? Basically could it be that this kit is just more bitter and darker than you anticipated.

 

[MA71]

Given you havent done this before what are you basing your opinion on? Basically could it be that this kit is just more bitter and darker than you anticipated.

Well, I have brewing and distilling certification from IBD and have 25 years of drinking experience specialising in German lagers and Yorkshire bitter But i take your point, its difficult to express actual experience and capabilities on the forum without sounding a bit if a xxxx, as such my first thought was the malt extraxt was from the wrong kit as it brewed out like a weak Tetley's bitter, however I'm also keen to understand if anyone else hs had the same experience.

 

[Rwilts]

Well, I have brewing and distilling certification from IBD and have 25 years of drinking experience specialising in German lagers and Yorkshire bitter But i take your point, its difficult to express actual experience and capabilities on the forum without sounding a bit if a xxxx, as such my first thought was the malt extraxt was from the wrong kit as it brewed out like a weak Tetley's bitter, however I'm also keen to understand if anyone else hs had the same experience.

So re reading my second post

Given you havent done this before what are you basing your opinion on? Basically could it be that this kit is just more bitter and darker than you anticipated.

I can see how this can be read as havent brewed before - I actually meant havent brewed this specific kit before.

I wasn't questioning your ability to identify a bitter taste just how did you know what this specific kit 'should' taste like ?

And to answer your initial question , you probably have done nothing wrong.

From my previous kit experience and that was a long time ago lagers were very hit and miss, especially given the yeasts and temp they were fermented at.

Get a Woodfords Wherry kit , was a right of passage when i stated

 

[MA71]

So re reading my second post

Given you havent done this before what are you basing your opinion on? Basically could it be that this kit is just more bitter and darker than you anticipated.

I can see how this can be read as havent brewed before - I actually meant havent brewed this specific kit before.

I wasn't questioning your ability to identify a bitter taste just how did you know what this specific kit 'should' taste like ?

And to answer your initial question , you probably have done nothing wrong.

From my previous kit experience and that was a long time ago lagers were very hit and miss, especially given the yeasts and temp they were fermented at.

Get a Woodfords Wherry kit , was a right of passage when i stated

Hi RWilts
Appreciate your suggestions and support, to answer your question, as the kit was labeled New world lager i was expecting a lightly hoppy lager with a foamy head and a mid to light yellow colour, slight hoppy taste with sweet notes on the palate and a crisp dry finish with no strong aftertaste.

Not what i got, and have assumed its an issue with my process, but just want to check if others have had similar issue.

 

[Clint]

Kit description says 4.5 out of 5 for bitterness. So is meant to be quite bitter. Yeast is a cali common by the looks of it. Hops "Antipodean". Apart from the hop choice it's along the lines of an American Pale to me. Colour does seem way off from what the blurb says though. The beer should also be very hoppy.

 

[The Baron]

Hi MA71.
Look up other older threads on the forum I have just pulled one up(Festival New Zealand Pilsner) and the first initial comments say it is darker than shown on the box and the flavours/hops are intense so it may be more bitter than a normal macro style Lager.
Ps I have not read the thread fully as it is quite long, Good luck hope it mellows out enough for you to drink

 

[Ale House Rock]

That's a shame. I made this recently and I'm very happy with it. My only issue compared to other kits I have made is that it is slow to clear. Colour is as expected and taste is smooth with a light hop finish. I think my ABV finished at 5.3%. You may just have been unlucky. I've had 2 batches of Razorback IPA that turned out darker than expected and one Muntons hazy IPA that was simply undrinkable after 3 or 4 that were great.

 

[Davegase]

I can't find anything online about Festival New world lager !
I found the Festival New world Pilsner which is the renamed Festival New Zealand Pilsner.
It is described as quite high on bitterness.

 

[The Baron]

I can't find anything online about Festival New world lager !
I found the Festival New world Pilsner which is the renamed Festival New Zealand Pilsner.
It is described as quite high on bitterness.

That is the kit I thought it was as from my search the pilsner is the only kit that relates to the OP's description I can not find a Lager kit by festival just a Red Vienna lager but that is not new world.

 

[MA71]

I can't find anything online about Festival New world lager !
I found the Festival New world Pilsner which is the renamed Festival New Zealand Pilsner.
It is described as quite high on bitterness.

Yes my mistake in naming it’s the new world pilsner

 

[Davegase]

That is the kit I thought it was as from my search the pilsner is the only kit that relates to the OP's description I can not find a Lager kit by festival just a Red Vienna lager but that is not new world.

I was thinking the same !
But all Pilsners are Lagers but not all Lagers are Pilsners

 

[The Baron]

My reading is that the Pilsner kit is more bitter than most lagers and if MA71 you are perceptible to bitterness like my wife it will be exaggerated.
I too am not as bad but do not like over bitter beer what one person sees as ok is too bitter for another. West Coast IPA's are well known for doing this for some drinkers

 

[MA71]

My reading is that the Pilsner kit is more bitter than most lagers and if MA71 you are perceptible to bitterness like my wife it will be exaggerated.
I too am not as bad but do not like over bitter beer what one person sees as ok is too bitter for another. West Coast IPA's are well known for doing this for some drinkers

That may well be the case, I’m a lager / Pils drinker so perhaps the kit is as expected and just not to my taste.
Got some friends coming over next week that drink bitter so I’ll palm it off on them

 

[Davegase]

I was thinking the same !
But all Pilsners are Lagers but not all Lagers are Pilsners

Maybe you should try the Mangrove Jacks Helles . It's much lower on bitterness 18 to 24 Ibu but it does require additional brewing sugar or enhancer.

 

[The Baron]

That may well be the case, I’m a lager / Pils drinker so perhaps the kit is as expected and just not to my taste.
Got some friends coming over next week that drink bitter so I’ll palm it off on them

That may be the case I would not tell them to get a genuine answer and see if some say it is more bitter than a standard lager(which I believe it is) but acceptable to them.

 

[Davegase]

That may well be the case, I’m a lager / Pils drinker so perhaps the kit is as expected and just not to my taste.
Got some friends coming over next week that drink bitter so I’ll palm it off on them

You could also try blending with something lighter, a cheap lager !