[cytorunner]

I am getting a bitter aftertaste in a California Common that I bottled about four weeks ago.  The first few bottles that I cracked were great very clean and fruity but as the beer has aged it gets more bitter at the end.  I did not have any problems while bottling, the bottles were sanitized with bleach and run through the dishwasher at the sanitize setting.  I am storing the bottles in a closet with a very constant temperature of 68 degrees.  I only thing that could be a problem is I added silica gel as a fining agent but I've used it in the past with out a problem.  I would appreciate any help or advise thanks.

[euge]

I've had this happen before. Put it up to two things: carbonation increasing and/or the beer continuing to condition. Have you brewed this particular beer before?

[cytorunner]

I haven't brewed this beer before so it is totally possible that this is just the character of the beer.  This is my first solo batch so I guess I'm just getting a bit paranoid about any off flavors.  Thanks Euge

[Mark G]

I find that California Commons improve significantly with some lagering time. I don't know if it will help this situation, but it's worth a shot. Throw some of the bottles in the fridge for 3-4 weeks and see if the beer improves.

[bluesman]

I find that California Commons improve significantly with some lagering time. I don't know if it will help this situation, but it's worth a shot. Throw some of the bottles in the fridge for 3-4 weeks and see if the beer improves.

+1

Lagering (aging) the beer should help round out the profile.

[Kit B]

I've had a common do exactly what you just described...Start mellow, get more bitter, and then it seemed to settle down.
Not sure why, but it happened.

[cytorunner]

I find that California Commons improve significantly with some lagering time. I don't know if it will help this situation, but it's worth a shot. Throw some of the bottles in the fridge for 3-4 weeks and see if the beer improves.

I thinks that this is exactly what it needs, I grabbed a bottle tonight that had been sitting in the fridge for about two weeks and the bitterness is less pronounced.  I'm going to let that remaining bottles chill out in the fridge and we will see in a few weeks.  thanks for the advise.