2015/16 Barrel-Aged Beer Infections

Not barrel aged but I got a case of infected anderson valley barney flats oatmeal stout last. This was a go to beer for me that I've drank MANY times and it was very clear it was infected. I tried many times but it would up 24 drain pours.

I contacted anderson valley and sent them one for analysis and they hooked me up with some brewery swag which was appreciated.

 

You sound like a lot of fun.

 

With the amount of talk on these forums about infected beers, it really seems like it's a common issue.
Since it seems like some are trigger happy to say a beer is infected I wasn't sure if the beers below were that case, or just poorly made.

Mikkeller - Beer Geek Breakfast Brunch Big Blend
As soon as the liquid touched the glass it filled up with foam. It didn't gush out of the bottle, but the carbonation was crazy high. After letting the foam settle and taking a taste all I could think of was bloody pennies. Certainly no barrels or coffee.

Goose Island - Sofie 2012
Gushed like crazy out of the bottle. Tasted funky, but not in a bad way. Just how I wanted a 2012 to taste, but only had 1/2 a bottle to salvage.

Bolero Snort - Bergen County Brandy Barrel
Again, not sure if it was infected but was more sour than expected but I enjoyed it. Coincidentally like Bourbon County, the brewery posted an article about infection issues this year and offered refunds. I didn't bother since I enjoyed my beer.

 

With such an attitude you wind up cheating yourself.

In my experience knowledge is the only thing that can be given away freely where one gets back more than given. In addition, since you don't know everything you create a toxic environment which both discorages others from learning about anything you have to say or from even paying any attention to you in the future. Thereby you also contribute to ensuring that your own knowledge becomes stagnant.

 

Did Revolution do anything with these? I had one I picked up in a Chicago trip and yes it was bad. Gravedigger Billy was excellent on the other hand.

 

Uplands StOAKed was infected last year and I understand infected this year also. It was aged in clean oak barrels.

 

Purchased a bottle of CBC's YouEnjoyMyStout from 2015 that was over-carbonated with a thin mouthfeel and tart cherry/berry notes. Also, purchased a bottle of Grimm's Maple Bourbon Double Negative that had tart green apple notes underlying both the smell and taste.

 

Evil Twin Cognac Jesus was my first infected bottle experience. I've had beers that have been a little off before, but this was on a whole other unmistakable level. Revolting. $25 drain pour.

 

I've had a number of infected beers, as well as beers with terrible off-flavors. And perhaps it's just me, but the volume of infected beers seems to have dropped over the past few years. I'm not sure if this is personal perception or if brewers are getting better at controlling their barrels, but I hope it's a positive trend.

On the other hand, new/local start-ups seem to be having more trouble than ever controlling off-flavors in their bottled beers, so I suppose it's a trade-off.

 

My first "off" beer was 2009 Abyss. it was a little tart (almost like it had been in Pinot Noir barrels) but definitely drinkable.

This years Bourbon county Coffee was on a whole other level of terrible. Cracked a bottle a month ago and it was one of the worst things I have ever tasted.

 

You haven't posted here often, have you?

 

Infected is such a hyped word and I agree with most, an overused expression my some who don't know what that actually means or how to identify it. I'm a homebrewer and have made an infected beer before. Off flavors in a beer and true infections are not the same thing.

 

Just my job to be a dick.

 

I had heard people having cans of death by coconut explode due to over carbonation from infection.

 

Interesting attitude considering the name of the site we are on. Part of advocating for good beer is educating those who do not have an adequate understanding. I've learned a ton on here from people who were willing to share some of their vast knowledge of beer, and doing so without being condescending. Everyone has to start somewhere.

 

Did you replace the bad batch of Summer Love with 4 'new' 6-packs of Summer Love?

Did you go to your local beer distributor to make this exchange?

Cheers!

 

So basically you don't know, got it.

 

How do you know the explosion wasn't caused by off-flavors?