An unpleasant bitterness in Waldo Lake Amber

Northern Brewer General
1

Hi All,
just cracked open a Waldo Lake Amber, and wow, it was bitter, not nice, not really drinkable at this point.
(different from the not unpleasant bitterness in my recent tonguesplitter)

extract kit with US-05 yeast
full boil
2 wks primary, 2 wks secondary
2.5 weeks carbonating
followed recipe exactly.

thoughts?

should I just give it some time?

this is the first time this has happened in over 30 batches.

thanks!

2

Yup, give it time. Was it clear when you bottled it? Was it clear when you decanted into a glass? The presence of yeast can impart a bitterness, or it could just need more time to become more cohesive.

3

My Waldo lake is always best about 6 weeks into the bottle or keg. It loses some of that bitterness and tends to be a little more malty sweet.

4

I purposely designed that recipe to be more bitter than a “normal” amber, which are usually too sweet for me.

5

I’ve noticed the same bitterness bite in my WLA that’s only been carbing for 12 days. I’m liking it though. I bet a couple more weeks will mellow it out.

6

Another element that may be contributing to higher bitterness is the fact that you did a full boil…with a full boil, you are getting better hops utilization. Just a thought.

7

I kegged my WLA on 1/18 and it seems to be like most ambers and reds that I have made where they are best when conditioned for about 6 weeks minimum.

8

wow, thanks everyone!

I will wait 6 weeks.

I have noticed an increased hoppiness once I’ve started full boils…
sometimes it’s ok, but sometimes not.

how do I adjust the hops for full boils?, when using recipes based on extract kits.

thanks for all the info,

9

I always put my extract recipies into Beersmith to see what each hop addition gave.
then i could tweak the additions around to keep the ibu/SG where i wanted it.

Drinking a WLA thats been aged 1 year right now.
Was a bit hot when young, cause I had gotten some rediculous 90+ effeciency from a monster decoction. Its really tasty now.

10

Another decent program which will allow you to play with IBU and gravity levels is hopville (it’s free!). When I was doing extract brews, I always used hopville to tweak recipes…now using Beersmith and love it.

11

thanks everyone, I will check out brewsmith!

12

WLA was my second brew. I did the extract version, if it matters. It was pretty good at 8 weeks and GREAT at 10 weeks. I have found that all the beers I have brewed are better with age.

Give it time. It will mellow out. One of my favorites that I have brewed so far.

JW

13

I purposely designed that recipe to be more bitter than a “normal” amber, which are usually too sweet for me.[/quote]

I prefer mine both! What I have been doing with the last few batches is mashing a little higher so that it finishes about 1.018 and about 5.5% man oh man is that good beer!

14

thanks everyone, I feel better now,