Membership questions? Log in issues? Email info@brewersassociation.org

« previous next »
Pages: [1]   Go Down

Author Topic: Plastic off flavor in Wheat beer?  (Read 3320 times)

Offline cytorunner

  • Cellarman
  • **
  • Posts: 46
Plastic off flavor in Wheat beer?
« on: March 22, 2011, 07:43:14 pm »
I brewed an American Wheat beer a few weeks ago and it seems to have a plastic flavor.  I was wondering if this is function of the wheat yeast or a sanitation problem?  I've brewed a few batches and al of the rest don't seem to have this problem.  Any thoughts or advise would be great.
Logged
Jim

On Tap: Irish Red
Primary: Brown Porter
Secondary: Nothing

Offline Hokerer

  • I spend way too much time on the AHA forum
  • ********
  • Posts: 2654
  • Manassas, VA
Re: Plastic off flavor in Wheat beer?
« Reply #1 on: March 22, 2011, 07:53:11 pm »
Do you sanitize with bleach?  The slightest trace of the least amount of bleach remaining on any of your bits and pieces can lead to development of chlorophenols whose taste is described as "band aid" or "plasticy"
Logged
Joe

Offline cytorunner

  • Cellarman
  • **
  • Posts: 46
Re: Plastic off flavor in Wheat beer?
« Reply #2 on: March 22, 2011, 08:04:56 pm »
I do not sanitize with bleach but I use tap water when I brew.
Logged
Jim

On Tap: Irish Red
Primary: Brown Porter
Secondary: Nothing

Offline Thirsty_Monk

  • Brewmaster General
  • *******
  • Posts: 2514
  • Eau Claire WI
    • Lazy Monk Brewing
Re: Plastic off flavor in Wheat beer?
« Reply #3 on: March 22, 2011, 08:16:24 pm »
What yeast did you use.
Some yeast can create "plastic" taste.
There was a session about it on lase NHC.
Logged
Na Zdravie

Lazy Monk Brewing
http://www.lazymonkbrewing.com

Offline cytorunner

  • Cellarman
  • **
  • Posts: 46
Re: Plastic off flavor in Wheat beer?
« Reply #4 on: March 22, 2011, 08:17:50 pm »
is there anyway to clear the chlorine without a systemic water filter?
Logged
Jim

On Tap: Irish Red
Primary: Brown Porter
Secondary: Nothing

Offline cytorunner

  • Cellarman
  • **
  • Posts: 46
Re: Plastic off flavor in Wheat beer?
« Reply #5 on: March 22, 2011, 08:20:46 pm »
Quote from: Thirsty_Monk on March 22, 2011, 08:16:24 pm
What yeast did you use.
Some yeast can create "plastic" taste.
There was a session about it on lase NHC.

I used Wyeast 1010 American Wheat
Logged
Jim

On Tap: Irish Red
Primary: Brown Porter
Secondary: Nothing

Offline Thirsty_Monk

  • Brewmaster General
  • *******
  • Posts: 2514
  • Eau Claire WI
    • Lazy Monk Brewing
Re: Plastic off flavor in Wheat beer?
« Reply #6 on: March 22, 2011, 08:24:52 pm »
Talk was more about Belgian and Hefe yeasts.
Chlorine will valitalize (big word) with boil. Chloramine can be removed with Charcoal filter.
Logged
Na Zdravie

Lazy Monk Brewing
http://www.lazymonkbrewing.com

Offline Hokerer

  • I spend way too much time on the AHA forum
  • ********
  • Posts: 2654
  • Manassas, VA
Re: Plastic off flavor in Wheat beer?
« Reply #7 on: March 22, 2011, 08:49:24 pm »
Quote from: cytorunner on March 22, 2011, 08:17:50 pm
is there anyway to clear the chlorine without a systemic water filter?

Simplest way is Campden tablets.  One quarter tablet per 5 gallons instantly gets rid of all chlorine and chloramines.

Campden Tablets
« Last Edit: March 22, 2011, 08:51:35 pm by hokerer »
Logged
Joe

Offline cytorunner

  • Cellarman
  • **
  • Posts: 46
Re: Plastic off flavor in Wheat beer?
« Reply #8 on: March 22, 2011, 09:38:05 pm »
cool thanks for the advise
Logged
Jim

On Tap: Irish Red
Primary: Brown Porter
Secondary: Nothing

Offline denny

  • Administrator
  • Retired with too much time on my hands
  • *****
  • Posts: 27129
  • Noti OR [1991.4, 287.6deg] AR
    • Dennybrew
Re: Plastic off flavor in Wheat beer?
« Reply #9 on: March 23, 2011, 09:17:30 am »
Quote from: cytorunner on March 22, 2011, 08:17:50 pm
is there anyway to clear the chlorine without a systemic water filter?

A few ways.  If it's chlorine, not chloramine, you can simply draw the water the day before and let it sit uncovered overnight .  Or you can boil it.  The fast, easy way, which works for both chlorine and chloramine, is to use campden tablets.  One crushed tab added to 20 gal. of water will remove chlorine or chloramine almost instantly.
Logged
Life begins at 60.....1.060, that is!

www.dennybrew.com

The best, sharpest, funniest, weirdest and most knowledgable minds in home brewing contribute on the AHA forum. - Alewyfe

"The whole problem with the world is that fools and fanatics are always so certain of themselves, and wiser people so full of doubts." - Bertrand Russell

Offline majorvices

  • Global Moderator
  • I must live here
  • *****
  • Posts: 11332
  • Polka. If its too loud you're too young.
Re: Plastic off flavor in Wheat beer?
« Reply #10 on: March 23, 2011, 10:58:32 am »
What's wrong with Carbon filtration? I run mine through a filter and have had it tested and there is no chlorine in water (I do double filter).
Logged

Offline denny

  • Administrator
  • Retired with too much time on my hands
  • *****
  • Posts: 27129
  • Noti OR [1991.4, 287.6deg] AR
    • Dennybrew
Re: Plastic off flavor in Wheat beer?
« Reply #11 on: March 23, 2011, 11:00:33 am »
Quote from: majorvices on March 23, 2011, 10:58:32 am
What's wrong with Carbon filtration? I run mine through a filter and have had it tested and there is no chlorine in water (I do double filter).

Absolutely nothing wrong with it if you have one.
Logged
Life begins at 60.....1.060, that is!

www.dennybrew.com

The best, sharpest, funniest, weirdest and most knowledgable minds in home brewing contribute on the AHA forum. - Alewyfe

"The whole problem with the world is that fools and fanatics are always so certain of themselves, and wiser people so full of doubts." - Bertrand Russell

Offline Hokerer

  • I spend way too much time on the AHA forum
  • ********
  • Posts: 2654
  • Manassas, VA
Re: Plastic off flavor in Wheat beer?
« Reply #12 on: March 23, 2011, 11:46:42 am »
Quote from: majorvices on March 23, 2011, 10:58:32 am
What's wrong with Carbon filtration? I run mine through a filter and have had it tested and there is no chlorine in water (I do double filter).

As I understand it, carbon filtration will work for chlorine but it's a little more tricky for chloramines.  Carbon filtration will remove chloramines but only if the contact time with the carbon is long enough.  Most of us can't/won't run the water through the filter slowly enough to do that.  If your water supply uses chloramines, it sounds like your double filtering is meeting that contact time requirement.
Logged
Joe

Offline majorvices

  • Global Moderator
  • I must live here
  • *****
  • Posts: 11332
  • Polka. If its too loud you're too young.
Re: Plastic off flavor in Wheat beer?
« Reply #13 on: March 23, 2011, 11:52:47 am »
Mine doesn't use chloramines, but from my understanding filtration takes care of about 90% of chlorine or chloramines depending how slow you run the water through. Double filtering takes it down to negligible levels (but, IMO, 90% is probably negligible as well. Never noticed off flavors even from single filter.)
Logged
Pages: [1]   Go Up
« previous next »