Yucky plastic aftertaste :(

[SteBeardface]

Do you dechlorinate your water with Camden tablets or similar?

Yes, half a tablet for 23L, crushed, stirred in and left covered for an hour before starting the brew.
I then use some of that water in the kettle, boil it up and add to a (cleaned and sanitised) stockpot with the kit already in the pot. I stir to dissolve and transfer that to the treated water.

 

[Mungri]

I'm not even boiling, these are all kit brews. I want to get the basics under my belt and iron out any creases before I turn to AG, which I have everything I need to start.
I've only been brewing since June this year and the only successful brew I've had is the Youngs American IPA kit I got with a starter homebrew kit in East Belfast.
I'm not keen on spending so much on kegs yet, even if they are half the price. I just can't think of what I'm doing wrong...

You’re sure this isn’t the dreaded homebrew twang? I did 10 or so kits when I started brewing. Some had the twang, some didn’t. The Young’s AIPA I’ve done 3 times without any twang. Same equipment, same sanitation regime, same water.
Just a thought.

 

[Sadfield]

Strawberry? Plastic? That strikes a chord with me. I'm going a bit leftfield here, but has anyone else tasted this beer? Do they pickup the same fault? I've had a similar issue, both in homebrew and commercial beers, that I can only put down as a low tolerance to a certain ester that makes strawberry beers (or certain hop aromas) taste like car body filler.
More detail on my weirdness in this...
https://macchomebrew.club/off-flavour-or-off-taste-buds/

 

[SteBeardface]

You’re sure this isn’t the dreaded homebrew twang? I did 10 or so kits when I started brewing. Some had the twang, some didn’t. The Young’s AIPA I’ve done 3 times without any twang. Same equipment, same sanitation regime, same water.
Just a thought.

I don't believe it's a twang, per se, it's a noticeable off-flavour. I tried a suggestion above - adding lemonade to lighten of mask the plastic taste - but it didn't work at all. I'm now tempted to remake the Youngs AIPA with my current regime though, it might narrow down potential issues.

Strawberry? Plastic? That strikes a chord with me. I'm going a bit leftfield here, but has anyone else tasted this beer? Do they pickup the same fault? I've had a similar issue, both in homebrew and commercial beers, that I can only put down as a low tolerance to a certain ester that makes strawberry beers (or certain hop aromas) taste like car body filler.
More detail on my weirdness in this...
https://macchomebrew.club/off-flavour-or-off-taste-buds/

Definitely interesting! However, if it is a case-by-case basis with people tasting this, then the people that have tried it share that same sensitivity. I'm not sure on the likelihood of that, especially as my 2 current brews are the new Wilko choc stout and triple-hopped IPA (no strawberries in either)

 

[rank_frank]

Just a thought, you're not using a hose of any sort to dispense your initial water before mixing the kit are you? Unless it's food grade hose that can introduce a horrible plastic taste.

 

[Dutto]

Just a thought, you're not using a hose of any sort to dispense your initial water before mixing the kit are you? Unless it's food grade hose that can introduce a horrible plastic taste.

Which is exactly why I use one of these ...

... and after once seeing black mould on the inside of the tube I ALWAYS sanitise its replacement with Star San after use. (*)


(*)
I sanitise ALL tubes by spraying a StarSan mixture to the inside of the tube until there is a "plug" of liquid laying in the bottom of the first bend. I then turn the tube over and over until the StarSan mix falls out of the far end.

The tube in the photograph has been in service for about a year now and is showing no sign of mould or other nasties inside.

 

[SteBeardface]

No hoses used pre-fermentation. I just lift the pot and pour in from a reasonable height to try and aerate, though I always give it a good stir too before pitching the yeast.

The only things i use to prep the beer kits are:

- a stainless steel stockpot
- a kettle
- a plastic paddle
- a plastic spray bottle with star san solution
- the plastic FV
- a glass hydrometer

Anything else doesnt touch the beer (airlock, grommet)

 

[Pavros]

A couple of things strike me (although they will probably turn out to be red herrings!):

Yes, half a tablet for 23L, crushed, stirred in and left covered for an hour before starting the brew.
I then use some of that water in the kettle, boil it up and add to a (cleaned and sanitised) stockpot with the kit already in the pot. I stir to dissolve and transfer that to the treated water.

When I'm treating my water with a campden tablet, I leave it uncovered - don't know if covering it has any effect.

How are you sanitising the fv that you treat the water in and the stockpot? If you are using a cloth of some sort, do you sanitise this as well?

I think that I recall reading that some people think that the Bulldog strawberry kit had a chemical taste rather than a natural strawberry one. Check the reviews thread and see what others have experienced.

 

[JonBrew]

Having read the whole thread and your above update, here are my thoughts on your options in terms of next steps (in no particular order):

a) Try a new fermenter as others have suggested
b) Try another kit beer using bottled water such as Tesco Ashbeck. I suggest this because there may be other compounds, be it organic or otherwise, in your tap water that could be causing the issue and would not be removed by campden tablets.
c) Try doing the Youngs IPA kit again. If you perceive the same issue then it's not the kits. If you don't, then maybe you're hyper sensitive to something in the subsequent kits you've brewed since the Youngs IPA.
d) Brew a simple and small all grain BIAB batch (you have all the equipment you need with the exception of a straining bag) and see if you get the same issue.

If you really want to identify the root cause you will need to do one of the above at a time so that you can rule out certain causes as you go.

The only other thing I can think of is are you diluting your star san to the recommended level? I only ask in the interest of considering all possible options. Concentrated star san (at a level you would use for passivation of stainless steel for example) has a strong chemically/sulphur type smell.

 

[Martybhoy]

Perhaps you could send a bottle to someone on the forum experienced enough to identify off flavours and their causes. What's a plastic taste to you might taste different to someone else and may help find the solution.

My initial thought is also the home brew kit twang.

 

[Oneflewover]

My initial thought is also the home brew kit twang.

That's what I reckon too. I just think that some people are more susceptible to the twang than others. I had that plastic taste with a st peters kit and one or two others. Interestingly I didn't detect it in Young's kits either, and I haven't had it at all since going ag

 

[SteBeardface]

The only other thing I can think of is are you diluting your star san to the recommended level?

I believe I am - 1.6 mL per L of water. It goes a little cloudy due to water hardness, but the pH is below 3 so all is ok there.

I'm beginning to believe people on this homebrew twang now. There aren't many specifics on what the twang is aside from a sweetness or off flavour, but it's making me think about doing a small AG batch now... I'm also considering getting a basic carbon filter for my water after watching a micro-meadery use one in a video on youtube. I'll see what the missus thinks first, then get one anyway ;-)

 

[Cwrw666]

Could it be the plastic bottle you keep your starsan in? I only suggest it because we have a measuring jug that if you disspense beer into it you have to drink it straight away because if left in it for half an hour the beer tastes terribly of plastic - and thats a foodsafe plastic jug!

 

[SteBeardface]

Funnily enough, this did cross my mind, but I took a good whiff of the star san in said bottle and I couldn't smell any plastic at all. However, I'm not 100% sure if that is indicative. It seems like the plastic 'twang' is something that develops during fermentation. I'm tempted to leave some water in the FV's while I'm on holiday, see if it gets that same smell.

 

[SteBeardface]

Update - The stout that has finished fermenting does NOT smell or taste of plastic! Into the pressure barrel with that bad boy, I think. Something to look forward to for Christmas then