DonRikkles
Well-Known Member
My last two belgian beers - a dubbel and a tripel - have turned sweet after a few months in the bottle. Almost too sweet. It's a malty sweetness, almost fruity. It doesn't resemble any noticeable off-flavor, though my palette is not as developed as others who may disagree with me.
I'm wondering why this sweetness occurs 3-4 months after bottling. The sweetness has been noticed by BJCP judges and me. The tripel turned so sweet that I had to dump the bottles after about a year and I fear my dubble (brewed in September, bottled in November of 14) is on its way to candyland. It's a shame too, because my dubbel was really fantastic around mid-January. If I had to diagnose myself, I fear that the bitterness is wearing off. My OG/FG and IBUs are below, but I don't think it's under attenuation as I'm usually under the target FG. Could it be an infection? Could it be an off-flavor? If it's the bitterness wearing off, is the solution as upping the IBUs? Please help!
Tripel:
1.085 OG
1.008 FG
24 IBU
Mostly pils with 2.5% each of Carapils and Aromatic
Dubbel:
1.071 OG
1.009 FG
23 IBU
Pils - 77%
Rye - 7%
Aromatic - 3.5%
Caramunich II - 3.5%
Speical B - 1.8%
I'm wondering why this sweetness occurs 3-4 months after bottling. The sweetness has been noticed by BJCP judges and me. The tripel turned so sweet that I had to dump the bottles after about a year and I fear my dubble (brewed in September, bottled in November of 14) is on its way to candyland. It's a shame too, because my dubbel was really fantastic around mid-January. If I had to diagnose myself, I fear that the bitterness is wearing off. My OG/FG and IBUs are below, but I don't think it's under attenuation as I'm usually under the target FG. Could it be an infection? Could it be an off-flavor? If it's the bitterness wearing off, is the solution as upping the IBUs? Please help!
Tripel:
1.085 OG
1.008 FG
24 IBU
Mostly pils with 2.5% each of Carapils and Aromatic
Dubbel:
1.071 OG
1.009 FG
23 IBU
Pils - 77%
Rye - 7%
Aromatic - 3.5%
Caramunich II - 3.5%
Speical B - 1.8%