skyno
New Member
I'm cross-posting this post in this area b/c I was going back and forth where it fits:
I have brewed maybe 20 batches of beer over the past 14 years and for most of those have done primary and secondary fermentation. I'm sure everybody does this, but I always taste it at every stage along the way just to get an idea of how the flavor is developing.
After doing this a bunch of times, I do question whether or not I can actually predict how it's going to turn out based on these preliminary tastings. Maybe it's because I don't brew enough, but it seems all over the map. There have been a couple batches where I remember thinking I may have screwed this one up but it turns out phenomenally and others that I think they are heading for greatness and they are just ok.
I am asking b/c I just bottled a Double IPA yesterday (partial mash) - after 8 days in the primary it was tasting very promising with lots of good hoppy flavor coming through and strong but balanced sweet flavor, then out of the secondary it tastes extremely sweet and caramel, chocolate flavor and I am barely getting any hops anymore - so now I am concerned. I do not remember this happening with my other beers, but this is my 1st attempt at a Double IPA.
What do you think? Do you pros think early tasting is a good indicator? Do you just have to have a lot of experience to know what you are looking for?
I have brewed maybe 20 batches of beer over the past 14 years and for most of those have done primary and secondary fermentation. I'm sure everybody does this, but I always taste it at every stage along the way just to get an idea of how the flavor is developing.
After doing this a bunch of times, I do question whether or not I can actually predict how it's going to turn out based on these preliminary tastings. Maybe it's because I don't brew enough, but it seems all over the map. There have been a couple batches where I remember thinking I may have screwed this one up but it turns out phenomenally and others that I think they are heading for greatness and they are just ok.
I am asking b/c I just bottled a Double IPA yesterday (partial mash) - after 8 days in the primary it was tasting very promising with lots of good hoppy flavor coming through and strong but balanced sweet flavor, then out of the secondary it tastes extremely sweet and caramel, chocolate flavor and I am barely getting any hops anymore - so now I am concerned. I do not remember this happening with my other beers, but this is my 1st attempt at a Double IPA.
What do you think? Do you pros think early tasting is a good indicator? Do you just have to have a lot of experience to know what you are looking for?