Very sharp Tang taste

AFG · Dec 3, 2009

Any ideas what it is?
I assume some sterilising issue.

I have just re-started homebrew after a break of about 10 yrs.
I re-used my old polythene beer barrels and fermenting bins.
Both barrels were the type with a float, and tap at the bottom connected via a pipe.
The first brew was a full mash, tasted good in the fermenting bin, secondary fermenter, but when it came out of the barrel tasted foul.
Not like vinegar, but a sharp taste at the sides of your tongue.
I relegated it to the skip.(Barrel and all).
Having wasted that, I went for a Woodfordes kit, easy to make and tasted great at barreling stage.
Left it a week or two, and the same taste.
I sterilised the first batch with old SDP, and the 2nd batch with bleach.
I never had this problem before.

Do you think that the barrel, pipes etc have had it?
Is there a rescue plan.
I think Iâm going to bin the lot (equipment included) AND START AGAIN Using a microbrewery kit.
Any way to rescue the brew?

Thanks

Dunfie · Dec 3, 2009

Hi AFG, great to see you have come back to homebrewing.

Its difficult to pinpoint the problem without a more detailed description on the taste. However, I had an old King Keg that had a similar problems - I lost a couple of batches before I decided to throw it in the bin. The old floating bits are difficult to clean if they have not been in operation for a while and it may well be that you have some problems somewhere in your old barrels.

I think you have to go with gut feel on this one. If you have lost confidence with the barrel then you might have to chuck it out and reinvest.

Could you bottle a batch and see how it goes?

AFG · Dec 4, 2009

Could you bottle a batch and see how it goes?

What a great idea.
Ill try that.
Im actualy not 100% sure it is infection, cos its been over a month and not got any worse (or better)