Geordie Mild kit- Rescue help!

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Rhodomel

NewBee
Registered Member
Feb 17, 2009
23
0
0
Wales, United Kingdom
Towards the end of december I made up a "Geordie mild" beer kit to see just how well kits work without adjustments and extra addditions, against all of my common sense I followed the instructions and made it to 40pints(With kits I usually go 32 pints or less).

Instead of sugar I used 1 kg of a blend of spray dried dextrose and spray dried maltextract aka " beer kit enhancer" in an attempt to minimise the chances of a bad beer.

I tasted it a week ago and its terribly watery. There is a little taste with the first sip then after that it just tastes watery.Its been in the keg for the best part of two months. Its not particualuarly alcohlolic either.

Some things that happened that may have contributed to the poor result:-

1.It had a particularly slow fermentation because of the cold weather.

2.After kegging I discovered that the keg had a leaking tap so I had to transfer it.This was after the priming sugar. Some active yeast were probably lost.I tried to minimise splashing and oxygen exposure.

3. Kept the keg at room temp indoors for just over two weeks, room temperature was very low becasue the heating packed up.

4. Kit came from what I can only describe as a "budget store". The yeast supplied may have been out of date.

---

I need some suggestions and pointers on what I should do with this. I was thinking of adding some campden tablets, leaving it then re pitching with some added ingredients.

So far I thought maybe black treacle and a litte ginger. Though I don't know if black treacle is ok to use. Id like to end up with a Porter(ish) flavour and colour.Yeast suggestions would also be helpfull.

A little help please ? :rolleyes:
 
IMHO, if a batch ends up watery, serve it to friends who tend to drink light lagers. I bet they love it. Save the good stuff for those who will appreciate it. Also, the more you mess with finished beer, the greater the risk of exposing it to O2.
 
Also, if you look at the BJCP guidelines (www.bjcp.org), Milds are allowed to be slightly watery...you may have made a beer that is perfectly to style, but you just found out that you don't like that style!:) Also, Milds are typically lower in alcohol too...

Now, as far as their not being much flavor...that is probably because it is a kit and not loaded up with specialty grains and such. Also, being a kit, I would guess that it had dry Munton's yeast with it...not the best fermentation profiles with those. Just my opinion, of course...

Hope this helps some...

Just mail the rest to me...I will be happy to take it off your hands!;D
 
Also, if you look at the BJCP guidelines (www.bjcp.org), Milds are allowed to be slightly watery...you may have made a beer that is perfectly to style, but you just found out that you don't like that style!:) Also, Milds are typically lower in alcohol too...

Now, as far as their not being much flavor...that is probably because it is a kit and not loaded up with specialty grains and such. Also, being a kit, I would guess that it had dry Munton's yeast with it...not the best fermentation profiles with those. Just my opinion, of course...

Hope this helps some...

Just mail the rest to me...I will be happy to take it off your hands!;D

Thanks for the reply. I hadn't though that it may be the "nature of the beast". That said it is far more watery than any finished beers Ive tasted, then again I've not tried mild before.
 
I've made a couple of milds, and yes they tend to be on the thin and low alcohol side of the spectrum. Also they tend to be lightly carbonated. But they can be very tasty just the same! I'm personally a big fan of the English-style session beers.
 
Oh, I am a fan myself...can't seem to brew a good one, though! I have a couple of beer-brewing buddies that brew some darn fine Bitters, Special Bitters and ESB...not to mention Milds and Browns (all the good ones!). :)

That's why I suggested he just mail me his remaining beers to "evaluate"! ;D