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Author Topic: Green Beer Question  (Read 2549 times)

Offline topher.bartos

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Green Beer Question
« on: February 11, 2013, 06:52:17 pm »
I have a stupid question about green beer.

I've heard mix opinions about green beer. I know it's acetaldehyde that gives it's green apple / tart flavor. But where I have a misunderstanding is when yeast starts transforming acetaldehyde back to ethanol.

I've heard you should keep the beer in the primary for a week (or more) longer than usual to give the yeast some time to metabolize the acetaldehyde because once you take it off the trub there is nothing you can do about it. But also, I've heard that you can just condition it in the bottle for a few weeks and the same thing will occur.

So, what is the best way to go about the acetaldehyde? I brewed some extract batches that had that green apple taste but because I was young and inexperienced, I'd drink it thinking it was just how extract homebrew tastes. But, now I'm not convinced.

What do you think?

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Offline euge

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Re: Green Beer Question
« Reply #1 on: February 11, 2013, 08:51:44 pm »
That's part of the "clean up" post attenuative phase. It can last longer depending on yeast health, beer strength and how cool the overall fermentation temp was. One way to combat this is to raise the temp of the beer several degrees towards the end of this stage. Another is to wait more days if you have less control over ferm temps.

To me it really doesn't taste like apple but like raw pumpkin- which I think is absolutely disgusting in beer.
The first principle is that you must not fool yourself, and you are the easiest person to fool. -Richard P. Feynman

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Offline topher.bartos

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Re: Green Beer Question
« Reply #2 on: February 12, 2013, 12:03:31 am »
That's part of the "clean up" post attenuative phase. It can last longer depending on yeast health, beer strength and how cool the overall fermentation temp was. One way to combat this is to raise the temp of the beer several degrees towards the end of this stage. Another is to wait more days if you have less control over ferm temps.

To me it really doesn't taste like apple but like raw pumpkin- which I think is absolutely disgusting in beer.

I agree, but will it clear up in the bottle? Or, will it only clear up in the primary?
In the works: Nothing

Primary #1: Nothing

Primary #2: Nothing

Keg: Cascade & Mosaic Session IPA

Offline davidgzach

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Re: Green Beer Question
« Reply #3 on: February 12, 2013, 06:11:59 am »
That's part of the "clean up" post attenuative phase. It can last longer depending on yeast health, beer strength and how cool the overall fermentation temp was. One way to combat this is to raise the temp of the beer several degrees towards the end of this stage. Another is to wait more days if you have less control over ferm temps.

To me it really doesn't taste like apple but like raw pumpkin- which I think is absolutely disgusting in beer.

I agree, but will it clear up in the bottle? Or, will it only clear up in the primary?

It should clear up in the bottle abeit given more time than if still in primary. 
Dave Zach

Offline euge

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Re: Green Beer Question
« Reply #4 on: February 12, 2013, 06:29:50 am »
I've never had a problem with it in bottles, but those have been primed with sugar so I think the yeast actively do a good job of cleaning up any acetaldehyde.
The first principle is that you must not fool yourself, and you are the easiest person to fool. -Richard P. Feynman

Laws are spider-webs, which catch the little flies, but cannot hold the big ones. -Anacharsis

Offline topher.bartos

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Re: Green Beer Question
« Reply #5 on: February 12, 2013, 01:58:47 pm »
Good news.

I put some bottles of my two green beers in the fridge for about 24 hrs or so... and they are definitely getting better. They are much more drinkable now! I was getting scared there for a second.
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Keg: Cascade & Mosaic Session IPA

Offline alcaponejunior

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Re: Green Beer Question
« Reply #6 on: February 12, 2013, 04:11:23 pm »
Live yeast cleans up the beer.  So whether it's secondary, primary, or in the bottles, as long as live yeast is still working it will clean up the off-tasting by-products.  Time may be an issue depending on the exact procedure you used, but live yeast will still do their work.

Offline euge

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Re: Green Beer Question
« Reply #7 on: February 12, 2013, 06:13:55 pm »
There are situations where one can rush their beer but one has to stick with certain criteria in order to accomplish it successfully. We can help you with that.

Otherwise, homebrewing to a certain degree is an exercise in patience. Give yourself a couple weeks in primary and use healthy yeast. Next year you'll be procrastinating, which can present other problems...

The first principle is that you must not fool yourself, and you are the easiest person to fool. -Richard P. Feynman

Laws are spider-webs, which catch the little flies, but cannot hold the big ones. -Anacharsis