Soapy flavor?

[motherofgallons]

I made an orange creamsicle BOMM but it has a strong soapy flavor which I’ve never come across in one of my batches before. All I can suspect are the following ingredients added in secondary:

vodka tincture of dried bitter orange peel, coriander seeds, tonka bean
Vanilla extract
Zest of 3 blood oranges, 1 lemon, 1 regular orange, 1/2 red grapefruit.

has anyone ever gotten a soapy flavor from these? I didn’t taste soap before or on day of bottling which was about 3 weeks ago. I tried a bottle last week and found the flavor. Just tried a new bottle and its even worse.

I clean my bottles with PBW, rinse at least 3 times, then starsan.

Maybe its the coriander seeds or the citrus zest. I scrubbed them before peeling the zest in strips (minimal but not 0 pith) with a sharp knife, so if there were pesticides I thought they were rinsed off but maybe not. I hope it will age out but i suspect it might not.

 

[passedpawn]

In your case, I'll bet it's the coriander. MANY people have the gene which causes them to perceive cilantro as soap. Coriander is the seed of the cilantro plant. Also, I think in some places cilantro is called fresh coriander.

Search and you'll see.

 

[RPh_Guy]

^ That was exactly my thought as soon as I saw coriander.

 

[motherofgallons]

I love coriander and i am aware of the soap tasting gene which i do not have. But maybe in the process of the tincture it brought it out somehow. But i have the leftover seeds from the tincture and i tasted them. They taste like coriander and an earthy lemony flavor which i feel in the mead, but no soap.

 

[motherofgallons]

I have let it breathe in the glass and while the soap is diminished after about 15 minutes, its not totally gone.

 

[passedpawn]

I love coriander and i am aware of the soap tasting gene which i do not have. But maybe in the process of the tincture it brought it out somehow. But i have the leftover seeds from the tincture and i tasted them. They taste like coriander and an earthy lemony flavor which i feel in the mead, but no soap.

I've had an awful time with soapy flavors. I've got two kegs to dump right now (IPAs). I'm starting to think it's bad/oxidized hops, or water.

See this following thread. There is not an answer yet, but I swear there will be soon.

https://www.homebrewtalk.com/forum/threads/soapy-taste-in-beer-almost-solved-getting-close.669225/

 

[passedpawn]

I have let it breathe in the glass and while the soap is diminished after about 15 minutes, its not totally gone.

In my case, it does not go away ever. I've waited months.

 

[BigEd]

It could also be actual soap. Coriander seed has a much different flavor profile than the fresh leaf of the plant. Soap molecules (metallic fatty acids) can be introduced to the beer during long primary fermentation times.

http://www.howtobrew.com/book/section-4/is-my-beer-ruined/common-off-flavors

 

[motherofgallons]

No hops, and the same Stockholm tap water I always use.

i can only think maybe it was a weird reaction or side effect of coriander tincture watered down. I tasted the tincture at bottling and it was good.

 

[motherofgallons]

It was in primary for 3 weeks so thats not overly long. Also it tasted fine at bottling.

 

[motherofgallons]

In my case, it does not go away ever. I've waited months.

I have an odd suspicion this is the case. I’ll just keep testing occasionally for science and will probably end up dumping it eventually when i am desperate for bottles.

 

[motherofgallons]

UPDATE: oddly enough, the soapy flavor has begun to fade. Not much orange and the vanilla/tonka is also faint but it's pleasant to drink now at least. I'm glad I didn't dump it. It will probably improve in the bottle.