Resurrecting the too-bitter beer

Discussion in 'Homebrewing' started by AlexHouston, Aug 16, 2012.

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  1. AlexHouston

    AlexHouston Crusader (438) May 19, 2011 Illinois
    Trader

    Greetings fellow brewers,

    Part time lurker, first time typer. My conundrum is this. I brewed a Scottish style barley wine about a year or so ago and while most of it came out fairly close to how I imagined, it is just way too bitter to be enjoyed. I realized my mistake came when I added the hops at the wrong time, but regardless, I was hoping time would make the hops fade away and make it more palatable. Alas, that is not the case. What is the best means to try and salvage something good out of this. Re-pitch some yeast, add some sugar and see what happens? Maybe a shit-ton of something like DME or honey to offset the bitterness? I'm open to ideas.
     
    #1 AlexHouston, Aug 16, 2012
  2. leedorham

    leedorham Initiate (0) Apr 27, 2006 Washington

    Brew a low IBU beer, maybe a pale with a neutral yeast, then blend it. You'll want to experiment with proportions and will end up with leftovers from one or the other depending on the proportions used but it can be a very successful technique.
     
    #2 leedorham, Aug 16, 2012
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  3. JackHorzempa

    JackHorzempa Grand Pooh-Bah (3,375) Dec 15, 2005 Pennsylvania
    Society Pooh-Bah

    Leederham has an excellent suggestion for blending the beer.

    How patient are you? Bittering levels will fade over extended aging (many years). Lots of folks like to age Sierra Nevada Bigfoot many years (3, 4, 5 and more) to obtain a Barleywine more akin to a English style Barleywine (i.e., more subdued hopping). There is no reason that you can’t age your Barleywine for many years to good effect.

    Cheers!
     
    #3 JackHorzempa, Aug 16, 2012
  4. randal

    randal Initiate (0) Apr 21, 2004 Colorado

    Was this extract or all grain?

    Make sure you aren't confusing hop bitterness, which will mellow, with astringency, which will not.
     
    #4 randal, Aug 16, 2012
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  5. pweis909

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

    Something along the lines of LeeDorham's suggestion. Or be more patient, as JackHorzempa suggests. Or dump and start over. Sometimes it's just easier.
     
    #5 pweis909, Aug 16, 2012
  6. AlexHouston

    AlexHouston Crusader (438) May 19, 2011 Illinois
    Trader

    Yea, I was thinking of trying a blending approach too, which may be the key to salvaging what is left. I still have about 15 bottles or so left and I didn't want to scrap them if I didn't have to.

    Yea, I highly doubt this one is hop related though. I've been sitting on this for about a year and two months and it's still pretty bitter, despite the change. I'll let it sit until Christmas time and see how it's handling then. Should it still be bitter, I think it's time to blend. Couldn't hurt anything I suppose.
     
    #6 AlexHouston, Aug 16, 2012
  7. MaxSpang

    MaxSpang Initiate (0) Jan 28, 2011 Ohio
    Trader

    If you only have 15 bottles, I say let'em sit for 6 months then see how they are. I wouldn't mess with opening the bottles to blend them
     
    #7 MaxSpang, Aug 16, 2012
  8. AlCaponeJunior

    AlCaponeJunior Grand Pooh-Bah (3,452) May 21, 2010 Texas
    Society Pooh-Bah

    You could blend them at the moment of drinking instead of opening the bottles and trying to re-bottle them later.
     
    #8 AlCaponeJunior, Aug 16, 2012
    pweis909 likes this.
  9. AlexHouston

    AlexHouston Crusader (438) May 19, 2011 Illinois
    Trader

    Very true. I wonder what I could blend it with.
     
    #9 AlexHouston, Aug 17, 2012
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