Pliny the Elder

[Beer-lord]

I have to speak out, in fusel terms, that I bottled some of my Pliney the Fusel from the keg and had one last week and the fusel is gone. It's lost its hoppiness but it really wasn't bad at all. And, I have one more left!
I've read that the fusel taste can never leave once it's there, only slightly diminish. However, I left some of it warm up to much warmer than even I like to drink it and had none at all. So, how is that possible?

[Brewbirds]

I have to speak out, in fusel terms, that I bottled some of my Pliney the Fusel from the keg and had one last week and the fusel is gone. It's lost its hoppiness but it really wasn't bad at all. And, I have one more left!
I've read that the fusel taste can never leave once it's there, only slightly diminish. However, I left some of it warm up to much warmer than even I like to drink it and had none at all. So, how is that possible?

It is possible that it wasn't fusel but you associated what you experienced with fusel. I say that because way, way, way back we thought we were doomed with chloropenols in several batches and I just threw them in a back room while researching possible solutions to dumping then we had brewed a batch with our new water protocol in place and got a phenolic taste. I threw a couple of the others in the fridge for an anticipated horrible beer tasting day (comparing really bad beers) and the bandaide taste had virtually vanished from the earlier batches.
We have not nailed down everything as to why yet but it seems you have experienced the same thing with your fusel assumption (neither is supposed to condition out).

I have a MB batch sitting on the shelf for almost a year now because of presumed fusels where we steeped honey malt instead of using honey and I'm not getting fusels anymore I just can't stand the POR hops/twang that won't condition out.

It is so weird how we, as homebrewers, can do several great brews in a row and then have one come out of the blue and be odd, just plain a mystery why something is off that the brew notes or brew day can't nail down as "THE" problem.

But hey guys I over salted our traditional Christmas Eve Caldilo this year, I was bummed but I have no intention of stopping the family tradition because of it. Stuff happens.

[BlackDuck]

Paul...Brewbirds might be right. Maybe it wasn't fusels. Remember back when I posted my first comment...I said there was something there that was different, but I didn't relate it to fusels initially. It was only after it warmed a bit that I thought it may be fusel. Maybe it had such a high IBU rating that some of that bitterness came across as fusel. And as time went by, and some of the hop characteristics diminished, maybe the fusel characteristic too has diminished.
Not sure...but maybe, just maybe!!!

[JimH]

Chris might be on to something, I mean, if it smells like cat piss you never know if that may contribute to a fusel interpretation.

I had a beer I thought got way too warm and at bottling and the first taste I thought I had made nail polish. I waited some time and the last one I drank was nail polish free. So either it wasn't fusel, or fusel does condition after all. Just my $0.02

[Beer-lord]

I have spoken to my water board and they tell me I really need add nothing to my water for brewing but did suggest I use 5.2 stabilizer as well as Campden just to be safe. But, I guess it could be anything. I think it was 2 batches in a row so maybe there was a problem with too much chlorine in the water for a while.
Either way, I threw about 2 gallons of Sublimely down the drain (might have a bottle of that left) and kept the Pliney as my friends begged me too.

Hey, I'm still a virgin brewer, learning as I go. I appreciate all the great backup and support regarding this. As punishment, I'm brewing it again soon.

[Inkleg]

Oh my, look at what has fallen off the Pliny tree.

Fallen off.JPG (79.55 KiB) Viewed 751 times

[Beer-lord]

What a great looking crop and a great way to start the new year off. I hope the fruit was plentiful this season.

[BlackDuck]

Yea boy!!!!!

[Kealia]

[BlackDuck]

I have to dry hop my Pliny when I get home from work today. I can't wait to open that thing up and get whiff and a little taster!!!!

[Beer-lord]

I gotta get on the ball and do this one soon to get back on my fusel horse.

[Inkleg]

Looking forward to an update Chris.

Yep Paul, You're one behind.

[Beer-lord]

Yes, I have been a bit BEHIND!

[BlackDuck]

Gravity is at 1.012, right at the predicted final number. According to my notes between the first batch and this batch, the color was the same. The bitterness had a little more bite in it this time...the kind that socks you right on the back of the tongue. Man...it was good.

Here's a proud taster in front of all the dry hops ready to go in:

image.jpg (143.82 KiB) Viewed 706 times

[Inkleg]

Damn, you man. I can smell those hops from here. And now I must remove the cat from my lap so I can go pour a glass of mine.
I hope you're happy with yourself....you cat displacer man you...

Oh, nice color by the way.