Off flavor in beer: dog food....

Discussion in 'Homebrewing' started by PDXAmbassador, Sep 14, 2017.

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  1. PDXAmbassador

    PDXAmbassador Initiate (0) Sep 16, 2015 Florida
    Trader

    Made a Barleywine and it's Aged in a plastic carboy for the last few months. Just checked on it and it smelled kinda like dog food.

    Is this the result of oxygen? Or yeast autalosis? Or something else?

    I know Barleywines can go through and "awkward" phase in aging but not sure if this batch is ruined or will age into something more appealing. Feedback welcome.

    (If it helps to have more info, this was aged at room temp, it's around 14% abv, and was almost all base Malt and a healthy dose of Munich. The carboy is cheap and thin so excess air may be getting in somehow. Hops were some EKG, and there are a few Bourbon soaked oak cubes in the carboy as well.)
     
    #1 PDXAmbassador, Sep 14, 2017
  2. EvenMoreJesus

    EvenMoreJesus Initiate (0) Jun 8, 2017 Pennsylvania

    I'd put my money on autolysis with that description. If you have the time and space you can age it longer and see what happens, but if it is, indeed, autolysis, I wouldn't hold out much hope.

    Could also be oxidation. Did you maintain positive pressure in your airlock the entire time? Did you check the beer a lot without purging the headspace of oxygen?

    Which yeast strain did you use, btw?
     
    #2 EvenMoreJesus, Sep 14, 2017
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  3. TheBeerery

    TheBeerery Initiate (0) May 2, 2016 Minnesota

    Kibble and soy sauce are oxidation signs from higher gravity beers and usually containing Munich. Imported German Dopplebocks exhibit this character quite frequently.
     
    #3 TheBeerery, Sep 14, 2017
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  4. PDXAmbassador

    PDXAmbassador Initiate (0) Sep 16, 2015 Florida
    Trader

    That's it. My money's on oxidation then. There's a bit of soy sauce in the aroma too.

    Sucks because this tasted perfect and amazing a month after primary. Now it is nearly a drain pour. Any chance this could age eventually into something like pleasant Sherry notes if I just wait long enough?
     
    #4 PDXAmbassador, Sep 15, 2017
  5. pweis909

    pweis909 Grand Pooh-Bah (3,250) Aug 13, 2005 Wisconsin
    Pooh-Bah

    Do you have a dog? There lies the solution to your dilemma

    Bummer, really, to have a big beer turn south on you
     
    #5 pweis909, Sep 15, 2017
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  6. Bryan12345

    Bryan12345 Initiate (0) Mar 17, 2016 Texas

    Do you cook much? Could boil some brats in it or use it as an interesting substitute for cooking wine or vinegar :slight_smile:
     
    #6 Bryan12345, Sep 15, 2017
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  7. MrOH

    MrOH Grand Pooh-Bah (3,995) Jul 5, 2010 Virginia
    BA4LYFE Society Pooh-Bah

    You could try racking to a glass carboy and pitch an active starter of sherry flor, but I wouldn't hold out much hope.
     
    #7 MrOH, Sep 15, 2017
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  8. EvenMoreJesus

    EvenMoreJesus Initiate (0) Jun 8, 2017 Pennsylvania

    Fixing bad or flawed beer usually ends up giving someone OK beer at best. If the OP's into drinking his punishment beer, then he should give sherry flor, brett, etc. a go. Otherwise he should let the drain or the bushes drink it.
     
    #8 EvenMoreJesus, Sep 15, 2017
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  9. SFACRKnight

    SFACRKnight Grand Pooh-Bah (3,348) Jan 20, 2012 Colorado
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    Cut the alpo dry hop addition next time.
     
    #9 SFACRKnight, Sep 17, 2017
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  10. PDXAmbassador

    PDXAmbassador Initiate (0) Sep 16, 2015 Florida
    Trader

    Oh that's it?! Man I'll stick to Purina on b2! ;-)
     
    #10 PDXAmbassador, Sep 17, 2017
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