Wilko Cerveza taste

[Martin-68]

Hi
I brewed a Wilko Cerveza it fermented ok , and has conditioned for about 3 week ,when I bottled I added about 120 grams of sugar mixed into my bottling bucket prior to bottling
The brew is really weak in taste , tastes quite sweet more like a shandy and has a good head on it
The abv is about 4%
There are no off tastes but is just really sweet did I add too much sugar ?

 

[Pirate_Pete]

I've made the Coopers version of this a couple of times. However I always add fruit or hops.
It just strikes me as being one of those beers that is quite bland. Good to be had ice cold on a summers day.

I use dextrose to bulk prime so I'm not sure if you've used too much sugar but I doubt it very much.
It's more to do with what you put in originally.
What were the start and finish hydrometer reading. And what fermentables did you add when brewing.

 

[terrym]

@Martin-68
Beers get their sweetness from unfermentable sugars in the wort.
Any fermentable sugars whould be consumed by the yeast, under normal circumstances. Certainly sucrose and dextrose will ferment out.
However if the fermentation sticks i.e. finishes early some of the fermenatable sugars may still be preent in the beer.
So if your beer tastes sweet it may be that it is possible hasn't finsished fermenting, so it important to know the FG.

 

[Martin-68]

Original gravity 1.040
Final gravity 1.008
Will the sweetness reduce if left longer to condition , I’m pretty sure fermentation was complete the brew stabilised at 1.008

 

[terrym]

Original gravity 1.040
Final gravity 1.008
Will the sweetness reduce if left longer to condition , I’m pretty sure fermentation was complete the brew stabilised at 1.008

Unless your beer is flat and the priming sugar has not been consumed my take on your numbers is that any perceived sweetness is down to your taste buds or unfermentable sugars in the original kit. If the priming sugar has gone and the beer is carbed up that's it for any further fermentation. However you could try leaving it to see what conditioning does for it.

 

[Rodcx500z]

1040 to 1008 = 4.2% abv I think Terry is on the right track and it could be a carbonation issue

 

[Martin-68]

Thanks guys I think it is unfermented sugar as you say ,
The beer is on par with a Mexican style beer for carbonation keeps a good head and continues flow of bubbles rising
I have done this kit before but carbonated with carb drops from Wilko the taste was good but far too gassy
That why I changed carbonation method
Think I’ll leave it in the garage for another couple of week and try again

 

[Pirate_Pete]

Unless your beer is flat and the priming sugar has not been consumed my take on your numbers is that any perceived sweetness is down to your taste buds or unfermentable sugars in the original kit. If the priming sugar has gone and the beer is carbed up that's it for any further fermentation. However you could try leaving it to see what conditioning does for it.

He does say it has a good head so we can presume it's not flat.
I think you are right when you say it could be his taste buds.
To be honest if I got a beer down to 1008, I'd be happy. Most of mine only get to 1010.
Then three weeks later to have a head on would be OK.

 

[Pirate_Pete]

Thanks guys I think it is unfermented sugar as you say ,
The beer is on par with a Mexican style beer for carbonation keeps a good head and continues flow of bubbles rising
I have done this kit before but carbonated with carb drops from Wilko the taste was good but far too gassy
That why I changed carbonation method
Think I’ll leave it in the garage for another couple of week and try again

I was typing and watching the cricket while you wrote that.

I find it hard to believe that it's unfermented sugar.
Down to 1008 is good, and the sugar you used to bulk prime should have been used up in three weeks.
Put one or two in the fridge for a few days and ask someone else to try one.
I'm surprised it has a good head to be honest.

I actually have one of these fermenting at the moment.
I added 500 grams of LDME.
3 Litres of Grapefruit Juice
Zest and juice from five Grapefuit.
It's been in the FV for a week and smells great.

 

[Martin-68]

Post update

Left a couple of weeks longer the taste has much improved,
Forgot to mention I did add White Labs Clarity Ferm to the fv to knock the gluten out of it ,this may have had a effect
Great drink now, so cheers