Help! American Pale Ale Problem?

Northern Brewer General
1

I am a new brewer and I recently brewed 3 different 6 gallon batches of Pale Ale. 1 tasted great and the other 2 were darker and sweeter than the first. What did I do wrong? I used same recipe for all.

2

Did you boil them for different amounts of time?

3

All ingredients the same? Extract or grain? All ingredients per batch purchased at the same time or separately? Same LBS?

4

I boiled all same time. Mash temp #1 158 #2 154 #3 153. Ordered grains from northern brewing. Last 2 were ordered a week later.

5

I got the first batch one week then ordered other 2 the next week all orders from Northern Brewer.

6

Same yeast in all three batches?

7

Yes

8

How accurate is your thermometer?
If it is reading 8F-10F hot at mash temps that could account for the difference. I know that several of the dial typm thermometers are notrious for reading incorrectly at mash temps.

Im think that when you thought you mashed a 158 you were actually only at 149 or so, which would put your other mash temps at 145F and 144F respectively.
I think that could cause your issue.

9

What were the original and final gravities of each? Sweeter could indicate incomplete fermentation???

10

agreed, I think it is a combo of high mash temp (over 155) and/or high final gravity.

11

Thanks for the replies. I will try again. I cant get enough of this brewing!